Individualised profiling of white matter organisation in moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury patients

Approximately 65% of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (m-sTBI) patients present with poor long-term behavioural outcomes, which can significantly impair activities of daily living. Numerous diffusion-weighted MRI studies have linked these poor outcomes to decreased white matter integrity of several commissural tracts, association fibres and projection fibres in the brain. However, most studies have focused on group-based analyses, which are unable to deal with the substantial between-patient heterogeneity in m-sTBI. As a result, there is increasing interest and need in conducting individualised neuroimaging analyses.

Here, we generated a detailed subject-specific characterisation of microstructural organisation of white matter tracts in 5 chronic patients with m-sTBI (29 - 49y, 2 females), presented as a proof-of-concept. We developed an imaging analysis framework using fixel-based analysis and TractLearn to determine whether the values of fibre density of white matter tracts at the individual patient level deviate from the healthy control group (n = 12, 8F, M_age = 35.7y, age range 25 - 64y).

Our individualised analysis revealed unique white matter profiles, confirming the heterogenous nature of m-sTBI and the need of individualised profiles to properly characterise the extent of injury. Future studies incorporating clinical data, as well as utilising larger reference samples and examining the test-retest reliability of the fixel-wise metrics are warranted.

Individualised profiles may assist clinicians in tracking recovery and planning personalised training programs for chronic m-sTBI patients, which is necessary to achieve optimal behavioural outcomes and improved quality of life.