Citation

Cook PA, Johnson TM, Martin SG, Gerhman PR, Bhatnagar S, Gee JC. J. Neurotrauma 2018; 35(8): 991-1002.

Affiliation

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 14640, Radiology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States ; gee@mail.med.upenn.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2017.5141

PMID

29239267

Abstract

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), has been described as the "signature injury" of the Global War on Terror. Explosive blast TBI has become a leading cause of injury as a result of the widespread use of improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan. We present a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with blast-related mild TBI (N=303) seen at the Intrepid Spirit Concussion Recovery Center at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune. The objective was to predict outcomes of return to duty (RTD) vs. medical retirement via medical evaluation board (MEB), based on brain imaging, neuropsychological data and history of mTBI. The motivation is to inform prognosis and target resources to improve outcomes for service members who are less likely to RTD through the standard treatment program. Return to duty was operationally defined as individuals who completed treatment and were not recommended for medical retirement or separation for TBI or related sequelae. Higher scores on the Repeatable Battery for Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) test were positively associated with RTD (p = 0.001). A history of three or more lifetime concussions was negatively associated with RTD, when compared to one concussion (p = 0.04). Elevated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the anterior corona radiata was negatively associated with RTD (p = 0.04). A logistic regression model was used to classify individuals with RBANS and imaging data (n=81) as RTD or MEB according to RBANS, ADC, and a history of multiple (≥3) concussions. RBANS (p = 0.003) and multiple concussions (p = 0.03) were significant terms in the logistic model, but ADC was not (p = 0.27). The area under the ROC curve was 0.77 (95% CI 0.66 - 0.86). These results suggest cognitive testing and TBI history might be used to identify service members who are more likely to be medically retired from active duty.

Language: en

Keywords

COGNITIVE FUNCTION; MILITARY INJURY; MRI; RECOVERY