[Course and outcome of severe traumatic coma]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Traumatology

Context:

• Focuses on severe traumatic coma (Glasgow Coma Scale 3-5).
• Highlights the critical need for early and intensive rehabilitation programs.
• Emphasizes retraining axial motricity for functional recovery.

Purpose:

• To analyze the course and outcomes of severe traumatic coma.
• To describe the stages of neurological evolution during the awakening period.
• To discuss neurophysiological mechanisms supporting functional recovery.

Summary:

• Significant recovery is achievable, with 62% reaching normal socio-economic status.
• Functional outcome correlates with coma duration, not initial depth.
• Neurological status at awakening predicts long-term prognosis.

Impact:

• Demonstrates potential for substantial recovery even in severe brain injuries.
• Provides insights into predicting functional outcomes in coma patients.
• Informs rehabilitation strategies for traumatic brain injury survivors.