[Rehabilitation of polytraumatized brain-injured patients]

After head injury, motor deficits (paralysis, spasticity, ataxia) dominate together with cognitive and personality disturbances. Optimal positioning and physiotherapy is important in early treatment to prevent complications later, due to spasticity. Memory and learning deficits can be compensated for with alternate cognitive strategies. Restoration of function after severe cognitive deficits takes a minimum of one year. Personality changes are disruptive to the rehabilitation process and to family reintegration. Therefore an intensive support system for the family is needed.