@article{ref1,
title="Outpatient follow-up after mild traumatic brain injury: results of the UPFRONT-study",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2017",
author="de Koning, M. E. and Scheenen, M. E. and van der Horn, H. J. and Hageman, G. and Roks, G. and Yilmaz, T. and Spikman, J. M. and van der Naalt, J.",
volume="31",
number="8",
pages="1102-1108",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To investigate outpatient follow-up after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) by various medical specialists, for both hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, and to study guideline adherence regarding hospital admission. <br><br>METHODS: Patients (n = 1151) with mTBI recruited from the emergency department received questionnaires 2 weeks (n = 879), 3 months (n = 780) and 6 months (n = 668) after injury comprising outpatient follow-up by various health care providers, and outcome defined by the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) after 6 months. <br><br>RESULTS: Hospitalized patients (60%) were older (46.6 ± 19.9 vs. 40.6 ± 18.5 years), more severely injured (GCS <15, 50% vs. 13%) with more Computed Tomography (CT) abnormalities on admission (21% vs. 2%) compared to non-hospitalized patients (p < 0.01). Almost half of the patients visited a neurologist at the outpatient clinic within six months (60% of the hospitalized and 25% of the non-hospitalized patients (χ(2) = 67.10, p < 0.01)), and approximately ten per cent consulted a psychiatrist/psychologist. Outcome was unfavourable (GOS-E <7) in 34% of hospitalized and 21% of non-hospitalized patients (χ(2) = 11.89, p < 0.01). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of all mTBI patients consult one or more specialists within six months after injury, with 30% having an unfavourable outcome. A quarter of non-hospitalized patients was seen at the outpatient neurology clinic, underling the importance of regular follow-up of mTBI patients irrespective of hospital admittance.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.1080/02699052.2017.1296193",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2017.1296193"
}