Abstract
Testa JA, Malec JF, Moessner AM, Brown AW. Outcome after traumatic brain injury: effects
of aging on recovery.
Objective
To identify differences in outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) compared with
orthopedic injuries as a function of age.
Design
Longitudinal data analyses from an inception cohort.
Setting
Outpatient rehabilitation program.
Participants
Eighty-two orthopedic injury patients and 195 TBI patients.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Independent living, employment, and level of functioning 1 to 2 years after injury.
Results
Older patients and those with TBI were more likely to have increased dependence postinjury.
Older TBI patients were more likely to have changes in employment status compared
with orthopedic injury patients younger or TBI. The Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory
and Disability Rating Scale were moderately predictive of level of functioning, return
to employment, and independent living status 1 to 2 years postinjury. Injury severity
was only mildly predictive of outcome.
Conclusions
The effect of age on outcome affects recovery from neurologic injuries and, to a lesser
extent, orthopedic injuries. Outcome after TBI is best predicted by patients’ age
and estimates of level of function at discharge. Findings suggest that older patients
and those with TBI have a greater likelihood of becoming physically and financially
dependent on others. Rehabilitation efforts should focus on maximizing levels of independence
to limit financial and emotional costs to patients and their families.
Key Words
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Article Info
Footnotes
Supported by the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (grant no. H133A020507).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
