Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) leads to long lasting effects on health and quality of life. The prognosis following a TBI is unique and often unpredictable. While research is beginning to study the impact of rehabilitation on outcome following TBI, there is minimal good quality evidence in the literature on what the most effective rehabilitation interventions are for the TBI population. Case Description: The patient is a 35-year-old man who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after falling off a bicycle. He was diagnosed with a right subdural hematoma and a left sided fracture through mastoid air cells. He received a right craniectomy for evacuation of a subdural hematoma and a left lateral cerebellar craniectomy with evacuation of an epidural hematoma. During his inpatient rehabilitation stay the patient participated in interventions including: functional mobility, gait training, complex balance training, coordination and agility, dual task training, and return to work tasks. Outcome Measures: The patient received physical therapy interventions for 60 minutes, 5 days a week, for a total inpatient rehabilitation length of stay of 64 days. The main outcome measures utilized with the patient included: Berg Balance Test, 6 Minute Walk Test, and High-Level Mobility Assessment Tool. Discussion: The patient demonstrated significant improvement in mobility during his stay in an inpatient rehabilitation facility, despite multiple medical complications and negative prognostic factors. This case report provides preliminary support for the use of a comprehensive rehabilitation program for severe TBI. Future research is needed on the outcomes following severe TBI and to establish standards for rehabilitation decision-making.
Dissertation
Physical Therapy Management and Recovery of an Individual with a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report
University of Iowa
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
Autumn 2018
Free to read and download, Open Access
Abstract
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Physical Therapy Management and Recovery of an Individual with a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report
- Creators
- Kristen Bolen - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Laura Frey Law (Advisor)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Case Report
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2018
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 12 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2018 Kristen Bolen
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Case Reports
- Record Identifier
- 9984110000002771
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