Barriers to rehabilitation of the head-injured patient

Most patients who suffer a head injury will recover fully, with or without the assistance of a rehabilitation programme. In those who fail to recover, the magnitude of the injury to the brain or other systems is not usually the cause. Severe cerebral injury causes permanent disability in a small but significant number of people, but lesser injuries may cause disturbances of cognitive and other psychological functions which prevent the head-injured patient's return to his former status far more frequently. The patient's personality and emotional disposition, his socio-economic situation and environmental factors at home and at work all have an important bearing on his eventual rehabilitation. If a patient fails to rehabilitate adequately after head injury, many factors may therefore be found to be responsible.