Rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Clinical and political responses to the worldwide epidemic of traumatic brain injury (TBI) need to recognize that the quality of outcome depends on both phases of treatment: acute care and rehabilitation. The growing scientific evidence for neural repair and regeneration has supported growing interest about what rehabilitation can offer to restore function and independence to disabled individuals. Clinicians who treat acutely head-injured patients should develop some understanding of the reality and potential of rehabilitation, to put their own work into perspective. This article reviews the common problems that follow TBI, unpacks the rehabilitation box to see what can be done about them, and considers the scientific evidence for the efficacy of the rehabilitation process.