A comparison of neuropsychological and functional outcome, and uptake of rehabilitation services, following severe and moderate head injury

Abstract

We undertook a prospective outcome study of 61 patients with head injuries of differing severities who had been admitted to a neurosurgical unit and who survived for six months or more. Patients and relatives were interviewed and patients were neuropsychologically assessed six months from the time of injury. Details of the uptake of rehabilitation services were also collected. Three- quarters of the patients with severe head injury and two-thirds of those with moderate head injury remained severely or moderately disabled at follow-up. Both groups showed evidence of cognitive impairment and were reported by relatives to be suffering emotional and psychological problems. Whereas 54% of the severely head injured received inpatient rehabilitation, this was true of only 23% of those with moderate head injury.