[Prognostic factors of post-traumatic vegetative states: 522 cases]

Long-term prognosis of post-traumatic vegetative state (VS) remains poorly defined. Three kinds of data have been collected for 522 patients in VS 1 month after head injury: pre-traumatic data; early data, collected during the first two weeks after trauma; late data, collected one month or more after trauma. Statistical relationships have been searched for, between these data and outcome one year after trauma, according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Some late data appear as essential prognostic factors of VS: threat blink; complications; ventricular dilatation; motor score (Glasgow Coma Score); spontaneous eye movements. Pretraumatic data then take place: age; previous deficiencies. Other data (especially early data) seem to have a weaker influence or outcome.