Medical complications in patients with severe traumatic brain injury during inpatient rehabilitation: a retrospective...

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) necessitates comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation for optimal outcomes, addressing challenges across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains. This study fills gaps in Indian literature by exploring medical complications during rehabilitation and correlating them with functional outcomes. Emphasizing the preventable nature of complications, our research underscores the importance of early diagnosis and interventions, contributing valuable insights to enhance TBI patient care in inpatient rehabilitation settings.

To analyze medical complications during inpatient rehabilitation of patients with severe TBI during 2017-2019, exploring associations with patient demographics and injury characteristics.

This study included 100 individuals over 18 years, admitted following severe TBI (Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 3-8) for rehabilitation to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from 1 August 2017 to 31 August 2019. A retrospective analysis of their medical records, employing a structured questionnaire, was conducted.

Among 100 TBI patients, 81% were male, primarily aged 40-60 years (35%). The mean (SD) age was 35 (15.81) years, and the mean (SD) time since injury was 15.84 (26.13) months. Road traffic accidents accounted for 81% of injuries, with 39% admitted within 6 months. 87% of them had complications, predominantly neurobehavioral issues (35%) and heterotopic ossification (20%).

Medical complications were prevalent in 87% of patients admitted for rehabilitation, showing associations with age, duration since injury, and level of consciousness. This study emphasizes the importance of regular medical input for individuals with TBI admitted for inpatient rehabilitation and the need for regular follow-up.

Level III, retrospective.