Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
07:37
Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Unexpected improvement after prolonged post-traumatic vegetative state
W F Arts1, H R van Dongen, J Meulstee
1Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute of Neurology, Netherlands.
Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1988
Abstract:
Presentation of an unusual case of severe head injury in which, after three and a half years of vegetative state, a gradual return to consciousness and personality occurred.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
DefinitionTraumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a disturbance of normal brain function induced by an external mechanical force, such as a direct blow to the head or a penetrating injury. It can affect both brain structure and function, producing a wide range of clinical outcomes. TBI is a heterogeneous condition, meaning its effects may differ based on the type, location, and severity of the injury.Basis of ClassificationTBI is classified based on severity, injury mechanism, or pathophysiology. In...
01:25Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology
Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...