[Effect of multiple trauma on rehabilitation of patients with craniocerebral injuries]

The aim of this investigation was to proof, wether there is a direct influence of polytrauma on rehabilitation and outcome in patients with severe head injury (SHI). 558 patients were investigated 3 years after the accident. 82% (447) had combined SHI and polytrauma. Patients with polytrauma and similar degrees of SHI showed significantly poorer outcome than those with isolated SHI. The healing process in the rehabilitation hospital was complicated especially by tracheo-pulmonary factors and wrong bedding factors (atrophi, calcification, decubital ulcers). It can be concluded, that diagnostics and operative treatment must be done under continuous intensive and neuromonitoring. Only life-saving operations should be done in the acute stage. All patients with moderate and severe head injury need early rehabilitation parallel to the intensive care treatment.