Physical examination, signs, and symptoms
The goal of the neurological examination for the physiatrist is to confirm the diagnosis and identify deficits that will affect an individual’s function. This enables the development of rehabilitation goals…
Complications of traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be a catastrophic event, with a mortality rate up to 40% in severe cases and potential lifelong sequelae in a large number of patients. It…
Neuroanatomy correlates
This chapter provides a foundational overview of basic structural and functional neuroanatomy relevant to brain injury. As such, the coverage is not exhaustive, and the reader is referred to authoritative…
Basic brain neuroscience and pathophysiology
This chapter serves as a brief overview in outline form of basic brain neuroscience and pathophysiology with specific relevance to the practice of brain injury medicine. This limited review is…
Acute emergency management of traumatic brain injury
General principles Acute management of traumatic brain injury is based on preventing secondary insults • Primary insult refers to the initial injury itself. • Secondary insult is a subsequent deviation…
Prehospital care of traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability and death worldwide. Public awareness of the importance of TBI and its sequelae has been increasing because of both the…
Prognosis and recovery patterns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 150 individuals die of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) daily in the United States. Advancements in medical and surgical…
Proteomic, genetic, and epigenetic biomarkers in traumatic brain injury
Biomarker definition Biomarkers are critical to understand disease pathophysiology, improve diagnostics, and select therapies. Biomarkers are used to determine the presence or absence of a disease, measure response to therapy,…
Epidemiology and public health and prevention
Epidemiology and public health Definition of traumatic brain injury The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as an “injury to the head from…
Brain death criteria
With the advancement of positive-pressure ventilation in the 1950s, patients who sustained a catastrophic brain injury could be supported in hospitals after cessation of brain function. In 1968, an ad…
