[Cognitive deficits after polytrauma. Studies of quality of life]

The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the quality of life after multiple trauma for patients with and without posttraumatic cognitive achievement deficits. We examined 173 multiple trauma patients 2-6 years after their injury. The patients were asked to rate their quality of life according to the established measure scales Nottingham Health Profile, Spitzer Index, Everyday Life Questionnaire, to a visual analogue scale and to the new "revised Aachen Longterm Outcome Score" established in our hospital. To evaluate the cognitive achievement of each patient the "Kognitive Minimal Screening" (KMS) was applied. Statistical calculations result cognitive achievement deficits as a highly significant predictor for quality of life after multiple trauma. In spite of this, the craniocerebral trauma is no global predictor of posttraumatic quality of life. These results show that the quality of life after multiple trauma is not only influenced by approved predictors such as injury severity but also significantly by the presence of cognitive achievement deficits. The KMS seems to be an easy test to evaluate those cognitive deficits.