Influence of injury severity on quality of survival after head injury

The relationship between severity of injury [as determined by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)] and the quality of survival (as determined by neuropsychological measurements and work return) were investigated in 54 conscious survivors within 16 months following head injury. While severely head injured (GCS less than or equal to 8) patients had more neuropsychological impairments in areas of intelligence, attention, memory, visuomotor speed, and motor skills than those with mild injuries (GCS greater than 8), performances after both types of injury were below normative levels in areas of learning, memory, and visuomotor speed. Unemployment increased after both severe and mild injuries, while employment status changed more frequently after severe injuries. Age had a minimal effect on neuropsychological and employment outcomes after minor head injuries (GCS greater than 13). The findings suggest that regardless of acute severity, closed head injury influences long-term quality of survival.