Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Unexpected improvement after prolonged posttraumatic vegetative state.

W Arts, H R van Dongen, J van Hof-van Duin

    Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
    |December 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    A young woman experienced a remarkable mental recovery years after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) left her in a vegetative state. This unprecedented case highlights the potential for long-term neurological improvement following severe head trauma.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Profile of pediatric Crohn's disease in Belgium.

    Journal of Crohn's & colitis·2013
    Same author

    Safety and cost of infliximab for the treatment of Belgian pediatric patients with Crohn's disease.

    Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica·2013
    Same author

    [Selenium requirements of dairy goats].

    Tijdschrift voor diergeneeskunde·2007
    Same author

    Long-term sequelae in children after cerebellar astrocytoma surgery.

    Neurology·2004
    Same author

    Clinical evaluation of conversational speech fluency in the acute phase of acquired childhood aphasia: does a fluency/nonfluency dichotomy exist?

    Journal of child neurology·2001
    Same author

    Visual function in children with hemiplegia in the first years of life.

    Developmental medicine and child neurology·2001

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Neurology
    • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Recovery

    Background:

    • Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in prolonged disorders of consciousness, including vegetative state.
    • Recovery from a vegetative state, particularly after extensive duration and traumatic origin, is often considered unlikely.

    Observation:

    • An 18-year-old female sustained a severe head injury, leading to a persistent vegetative state for approximately 2.5 years.
    • Over a six-year period post-injury, she demonstrated progressive signs of returning responsiveness and cognitive function.

    Findings:

    • The patient regained the ability to comprehend, communicate, and engage with her environment, forming interpersonal relationships.
    • Despite significant physical contractures limiting functional use of regained mental capacities, her cognitive and communicative improvements continue.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Implications:

    • This case challenges the established prognosis for long-term recovery from traumatic vegetative states.
    • It underscores the potential for neuroplasticity and functional recovery even after extended periods of severe brain injury.
    • Further research into the mechanisms of late-stage recovery from TBI is warranted.