Objective To collect the clinical data of victims with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University within 2 weeks after 4.20 Lushan earthquake, and to analyze their clinical characteristics and effects of early rehabilitation, so as to provide baseline data for rescue TBI victims with the early rehabilitation treatment during emergency medical rescue. Methods A total of 392 victims admitted in the hospital from April 20th, 2013 to May 3rd, 2013 were screened, of which the TBI victims were clinically assessed and treated with early rehabilitation. Then both the activities of daily living (ADL) and the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Recovery Scale (RLA) before and after the treatment were analyzed. The data were input by Excel software, and the statistical analysis was performed by SPSS softwar. Results A total of 51 TBI victims at age from 3 to 84 years old were included finally. The categories of TBI included subarachnoid hemorrhage (41.2%), intracranial hematoma (33.3%) and mixed type (33.3%), and the severity were associated with the type of TBI. The GCS score of cerebral concussion was higher (13.25 ± 0.62) while that of the diffuse axonal injury was lower (4.50 ± 0.71). All victims (100%) had limited ADL, 74.51% had cognitive dysfunction, 9.80% had speech disorder, and 7.84% had dysphagia. After the early rehabilitation treatment, both ADL (before treatment: 34.82 ± 58.29, after treatment: 69.63 ± 22.29) and RLA (pre-treatment: 4.16 ± 1.24, treatment: 7.20 ± 1.69) were obviously higher than those before treatment, with statistical differences (both P lt;0.05). Conclusion The TBI categories of Lushan earthquake victims are various and mixed, and the severity associated with the type of TBI. All TBI victims are accompanied with more clinical problems and functional limitation. Early rehabilitation treatment is safe and effective to improve ADL and RLA as well.
Objective To explore the number variation trend of inpatients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in high altitude and plain areas. Methods The first page information in medical records of TBI patients, who were admitted to military hospitals from 2001 to 2007, was searched and extracted from the Chinese Trauma Database. Two military hospitals in high altitude area and another two in the same hospital level in plain area were selected. Then, the number variation trend of TBI inpatients in those two areas was compared. Results In high altitude area, the proportion of male patients and their median inpatient days were higher, while the age, proportion of Han patients and surgery rate were lower than those in plain area (all Plt;0.001). During 2001-2007, there were 9 141 TBI patients discharged from the four hospitals, and the average annual growth rate was 13.15%. In high altitude area, the average annual growth rate of discharged inpatients was 24.00%, while in plain area, it was just 7.09%. The 4 common categories of TBI were intracranial injury, open wound of the head, neck and trunk, skull fracture, and other injuries. Conclusion Compared with the plain area, there are significant differences in the demographics, hospital stay and surgery of inpatients in high altitude area. The average annual growth rate of TBI inpatients discharged from hospitals in high altitude area is faster than that in plain area, to which should be paid attention by relevant departments.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical feature, prognosis and prognostic factors of early post-traumatic seizures in children. MethodsRetrospective review was performed on 101 individuals with early post-traumatic seizures (EPTS) who were diagnosed in Department of Neurosurgery in Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2008 to June 2013. The record was collected, which included patient's demographics, clinical and radiological presentation, management, and follow-up results of 12 months. The individuals were divided into late post-traumatic seizures (LPTS) group and control group according to the occurrence of LPTS or not. The SAS 9.2 was used for statistical analysis. ResultsDuring 101 cases in our study, male accounted for 60.4%, female accounted for 39.6%, and the ratio was 1.5 to 1. The percentage of patients who were under 6 years old was 74.3%, and the number of cases decreased with age. The peak time of EPTS was within 24 hours after traumatic brain injury. 55.4% of EPTS was the generalized seizures, 34.7% was the partial seizures, and 9.9% was the partial seizures and evolved to secondarily generalized seizures. The incidence of LPTS observed in our study was 26.7% within 12 months follow-up. The electroencephalogram displayed epileptiform discharges in 3 individuals who were without epileptic seizures. There was statistically significant difference in group LPTS compared to control group on these factors which included GSC score≤8(P=0.0064), complicated necrencephalus and/or encephalatrophy(P < 0.0001), multiple brain injuries(P=0.0210), subdural hemorrhage(P=0.0151) and intracranial operation(P=0.0029). The age, history, epileptic seizure type of EPTS, brain contusion, skull fracture and the early use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) had no statistically significant difference between LPTS group and control group(P > 0.05). ConclusionsEPTS is prone to occur in children under 6 years old. Male is obviously more than female, and the ratio is 1.5:1. The peak time of EPTS is within 24 hours after traumatic brain injury and most of EPTS are generalized seizures. The incidence of LPTS in children with EPTS exceeds those previously reported. Periodical electroencephalogram examination is essential to decrease the missed diagnosis of LPTS. The GSC score≤8 and complicated necrencephalus and/or encephalatrophy will dramaticlly increase the risk of LPTS. Multiple brain injuries, subdural hemorrhage and intracranial operation are also risk factors for the prognosis of EPTS. Although the use of AEDs is unable to decrease the incidence of LPTS after 12 months follow-up, it is probably beneficial to improving the cognition and brain development. The controversial finding in our study is whether intracranial operation can influence the prognosis of EPTS or not.
ObjectiveTo study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen combined with nimodipine in the treatment of cerebral dysfunction resulted from traumatic brain injury. MethodWe retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of 124 patients with cerebral dysfunction induced by traumatic brain injury, admitted to the Neurosurgery Department during February 2011 to February 2014. All the patients were divided into the traditional treatment group (n=45), the traditional treatment with hyperbaric oxygen group (HBO group, n=40) and the traditional treatment with nimodipine and hyperbaric oxygen group (integrated group, n=39). The differences among the three groups in neurological injury severity evaluated by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and the cerebral blood flow were recorded and analyzed at three time points (before the treatment, 2 and 4 weeks after treatment). ResultsThere was no significant difference in neurological injury severity and cerebral blood flow among these three groups before treatment (P>0.05). Evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks after treatments, the neurological injury severity of HBO group and integrated group were significantly less than the traditional treatment group (P<0.05); the neurological severity score of integrated group was significantly lower than the HBO group (P<0.05); the cerebral blood flow of HBO group and integrated group were significantly higher than the traditional treatment group (P<0.05); and the cerebral blood flow of integrated group was significantly higher than the HBO group (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe combination therapy of hyperbaric oxygen combined with nimodipine is effective in the treatment of cerebral dysfunction induced by traumatic brain injury, because of its attenuation of neurological injury severity and increase of cerebral blood flow.
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) in fracture healing after nerve injury by observing the expression of Sema3A in the tibia fracture healing after traumatic brain injury (TBI). MethodsA total of 192 Wistar female rats, 8-10 weeks old and weighing 220-250 g, were randomly divided into tibia fracture group (group A, n=48), TBI group (group B, n=48), TBI with tibia fracture group (group C, n=48), and control group (group D, n=48). The tibia fracture model was established at the right side of group A; TBI model was made in group B by the improved Feeney method; the TBI and tibia fracture model was made in group C; no treatment was given in group D. The tissue samples were respectively collected at 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after operation; HE staining, immunohistochemistry staining, and Western blot method were used for the location and quantitative detection of Sema3A in callus tissue. ResultsHE staining showed that no obvious changes were observed at each time point in groups B and D. At 3 and 5 days, there was no obvious callus growth at fracture site with inflammatory cells and fibrous tissue filling in groups A and C. At 7 and 14 days, fibrous tissue grew from periosteum to fracture site in groups A and C; the proliferation of chondrocytes in exterior periosteum gradually formed osteoid callus at fracture site in groups A and C. The chondrocyte had bigger size, looser arrangement, and more osteoid in group C than group A. Group B had disorder periosteum, slight subperiosteal bone hyperplasia, and no obvious change of bone trabecula in group B when compared with group D. At 21 and 28 days, cartilage callus was gradually replaced by new bone trabecula in groups A and C. Group C had loose arrange, disorder structure, and low density of bone trabecula, big callus area and few chondrocyte and osteoid when compared with group A; group B was similar to Group D. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that Sema3A expression in chondrocytes in group C was higher than that in group A, particularly at 7, 14, and 21 day. Sema3A was significantly higher in osteoblasts of new bone trabecula in group A than group C, especially at 14 and 21 days (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the Sema3A had the same expression trend during fracture healing in groups A and C. However, the expression of Sema3A protein was significantly higher in group C than group A (P<0.05) and in group B than group D (P<0.05) at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. ConclusionAbnormal expression of Sema3A may play a role in fracture healing after nerve injury by promoting the chondrocytes proliferation and reducing the distribution of sensory nerve fibers and osteoblast differentiation.
ObjectiveTo explore a method of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for preparation of personalized rat brain tissue cavity scaffolds so as to lay the foundation for the repair of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with tissue engineered customized cavity scaffolds. MethodsFive male Sprague Dawley rats[weighing (300±10) g] were induced to TBI models by electric controlled cortical impactor. Mimics software was used to reconstruct the surface profile of the damaged cavity based on the MRI data, computer aided design to construct the internal structure. Then collagen-chitosan composite was prepared for 3D bioprinter of bionic brain cavity scaffold. ResultsMRI scans showed the changes of brain tissue injury in the injured side, and the position of the cavity was limited to the right side of the rat brain cortex. The 3D model of personalized cavity containing the internal structure was successfully constructed, and cavity scaffolds were prepared by 3D printing technology. The external contour of cavity scaffolds was similar to that of the injured zone in the rat TBI; the inner positive crossing structure arranged in order, and the pore connectivity was good. ConclusionCombined with 3D reconstruction based on MRI data, the appearance of cavity scaffolds by 3D printing technology is similar to that of injured cavity of rat brain tissue, and internal positive cross structure can simulate the topological structure of the extracellular matrix, and printing materials are collagen-chitosan complexes having good biocompatibility, so it will provide a new method for customized cavity scaffolds to repair brain tissue cavity after TBI.
Objective To review the current status and advances of the correlation between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and fracture healing. Methods The related domestic and abroad literature about the correlation between TBI and fracture healing was extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results There are a variety of studies on the correlation between TBI and fracture healing, which can be divided into two major aspects: revascularization and osteogenesis; the local and systemic changes of the neuropeptide and hormone after TBI. Conclusion TBI facilitates callus formation, the further research is needed to clarify the exact mechanism.
Objective To explore the effect of systematic respiratory training on lung function in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Methods A total of 60 patients with craniocerebral injury who received conservative treatment from January 2015 to June 2017 were selected. These patients were randomly divided into two groups: breathing training group for systematic breathing training and conventional treatment group for conventional rehabilitation training. Pulmonary infection, length of hospital stay, lung function determination, vital capacity, percentage of maximal ventilation, patient’s oxygen saturation, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, peak airway pressure, airway resistance, and respiratory mechanics were observed. Results The pulmonary infection rate and the length of hospital stay in the respiratory training group were 10.0% and (8.17±0.99) days, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group [33.3% and (12.67±0.99) days, respectively]; the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). At the same time, pulmonary function, oxygen saturation, arterial oxygen tension, and respiratory mechanics were all better in the breathing training group than those in the conventional treatment group, the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Breathing training can significantly improve the recovery of lung function in patients with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury, reduce the incidence of complications and effectively improve the prognosis.
ObjectiveTo build core items of database for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rehabilitation medical database.MethodsRelevant factors in TBI database were summarized through database search in combination of acknowledged relevant items of TBI in rehabilitation medical database. Delphi method was used for experts to determine which items should be included by two rounds of questionnaires.ResultsThe average authority coefficient of experts was 0.94. After two rounds of questionnaires, 73 were included. Its contents include: general conditions, brain damage and disposal, relevant rehabilitation assessment scales, previous rehabilitation treatment, treatment expenses, and contents that require attention during re-evaluation.ConclusionsAfter two rounds of Delphi evaluation, the core items of database for TBI are identified with high recognition and consistency from experts.
In recent years, although the mortality rate caused by traumatic brain injury has declined, the disability rate has remained high, which has a serious impact on patients and their families. Therefore, solving the complications and sequelae caused by traumatic brain injury is the focus and difficulty of current clinical research. Integration of traditional and western medicine rehabilitation is an effective method for the treatment of the central nervous system at home and abroad, and it also fully reflects its therapeutic advantages in the application of traumatic brain injury. Based on this, this paper will mainly introduce the clinical characteristics of patients with traumatic brain injury, and systematically expound the commonly used clinical rehabilitation treatment methods of integration of traditional and western medicine, aiming to provide a certain guidance for the rehabilitation treatment of traumatic brain injury.