Traumatic brain injury is a substantial cause of disability worldwide; recovery is a long-term, intensive process. Patients with traumatic brain injury are admitted to inpatient rehabilitation with the goal of preventing disability and the need for long-term care as well as promoting patient independence. Acknowledging that traumatic brain injury also affects the family, much of the literature focuses on the well-being of families and their needs, bringing attention to family functioning, resilience, and psychosocial well-being. Recognizing the important role of families in health care, Canadian healthcare institutions espouse family-centred philosophy. Not to mention, the resulting impairments from traumatic brain injury and the complex nature of inpatient rehabilitation can also lead to the involvement of families in this process. However, we do not yet fully understand how families are involved in adult inpatient traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Given the adoption of a family-centred philosophy as well as the potential benefits of family-centred care for patient and family outcomes, it is important to understand this involvement to guide the provision of family-centred health and rehabilitation services. This study is the first step in a program of research that is devoted to understanding family involvement in adult inpatient traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. I used an interpretive qualitative approach with a two-phased sequential design to elucidate how families were involved in the inpatient rehabilitation process. I conducted one-on-one semi-structured interviews with six patients with TBI, four family members, and 10 healthcare professionals followed by observations on the inpatient Acquired Brain Injury ward at a Canadian adult rehabilitation centre. In Phase 1 interviews, both the patients and family members described family involvement as family members being with and supporting the patients, informing other family members as well as the healthcare professionals and keeping themselves informed, helping the patients to make decisions, and participating in care and therapy. The healthcare professionals similarly described family members being with and supporting the patients; however, they conversely illustrated family members’ involvement as providing information to and receiving information from the healthcare professionals as well as making decisions when required or deemed necessary by them, and learning care and therapy. While the observation findings supported the patients’, family members’, and healthcare professionals’ perceptions that family members support the patients by being present and spending time with them, they highlighted the healthcare professional-led nature of the rehabilitation process in the inpatient setting in relation to information sharing, decision making, and care and therapy. They also illuminated the potential impact of the ward environment on family involvement. This study was the first to explore family involvement with this adult patient population in the inpatient rehabilitation setting from the perspectives of patients, family members, and healthcare professionals as well as through direct observation. It revealed that patients and family members had different understandings than healthcare professionals of the ways in which families were involved. Given the adoption of a family-centred philosophy, we need to understand how to operationalize it in this type of adult setting and close the gap between theory and practice.

In this research study, the correlation and significance of head injuries in adult sex offenders that have committed crimes against children were measured and compared to a group of criminal offenders that have committed non-sex-related criminal offenses. Data on 30 randomly selected individuals from each of the two groups (60 individuals total) were collected to measure and compare the number of individuals with a head injury in each group. The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of why criminally deviant behaviors occur in adults. This research also hoped to encourage further research on this topic or similar topics that can lead to new ideas in prevention, intervention, and treatment plans in sex offenders.

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can result in a number of consequences for those who has sustained the injuries, as well as having an impact on their wider system. Estimates of divorce and relationship dissolution among couples following TBI can be as high as 54% and partners are reported to experience high levels of stress. The majority of studies have explored couples' relationships following TBI from the perspective of either the person with TBI or the partner, as opposed to exploring this dyadically and, therefore, limiting the holistic understanding to this topic. Aim: The two aims of this thesis are as follows: firstly, the mixed-method synthesis review aimed to explore the current dyad evidence-base around couples' experiences and relationships following TBI; and secondly, the qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of TBI on couples' experiences and relationships. Method: The systematic review's search strategy consisted of a computerised search across five databases and manual searches for further references in other relevant literature reviews and reference lists. The quality of the qualitative and quantitative studies were analyses separately. Metaethnography was employed to synthesize the finding from the qualitative studies. In the qualitative empirical study, five dyad-couples participated in the semi-structured interviews. The individuals with TBI and their partners were interviewed independently. The data collected was analysed using a combined deductive-inductive framework analysis approach, which supported comparisons between and within couples. Results: The systematic review yielded eight eligible studies, three quantitative and five qualitative studies. Review of the quantitative studies suggested couples reported poor relationship quality and partners reported more dyadic dissatisfaction and overall poorer relationship adjustment than the people with TBI. Analysis of the qualitative studies suggested there were significant variations in the way couples' experience and respond to TBI. This included individual responses from the people with TBI, their partners or collectively as a couple, which influenced their relationship dynamics and also how they coped. The findings also drew attention to other contextual factors that influenced couples' attributions and perceptions toward the TBI-related changes. Deductive and inductive analysis of the interviews in the qualitative empirical study identified three overarching themes: 'You begin to realise that, actually, life may not be the same ever [again]...'; perceived influences on relationship endurance following TBI; and contextual and other factors. These explored the impact of TBI on couples' relationships and the processes that interacted with or influenced their perceived relationship endurance. Conclusion: Although limited by a small number of eligible studies in the systematic review and small sample size in the qualitative empirical study, this thesis emphasized the importance of dyadic research for gaining a holistic understanding of couples' experiences and relationships following TBI. This allows the complex interplay between the TBI, the person who has suffered the TBI, their partner and their relationship to be better understood. The interconnectedness between the individuals and how the difficulties are experienced raises possible issues for healthcare services around their views and approaches to the individual with TBI, their partner and the couple's relationship during the recovery and rehabilitation journey.

Background The incidence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is about 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, a majority of which are mild TBI (MTBI). The incidence of whiplash injuries is about 300/100,000/year. There are several similarities between MTBI and whiplash injuries with regard to the causes of injury (traffic crashes and falls), the demographic profile of the injured (mostly young persons), and the type of symptoms exhibited by some of the injured (for example head/neck pain, fatigue, irritability, impaired cognitive functioning, and depression).  Main aim To investigate the epidemiology and long-term consequences in terms of symptoms, disability, and life satisfaction in cases of TBI and whiplash injuries in a well-defined population. Material and methods Data on frequencies and characteristics of TBI and whiplash injuries were extracted from the injury database at the emergency department (ED) of Umeå University Hospital (UUH). The results were presented as descriptive epidemiology. The 18-65 year-old persons who sustained an MTBI or whiplash injury in 2001, were provided a questionnaire three and five years after injury respectively, in which questions were asked about: Symptoms; Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) Disability; Rivermead Head Injury Follow Up Questionnaire (RHFUQ) Life satisfaction; LiSat-11 A local reference population was used for comparison of the RPQ. A national cohort was used as reference for LiSat-11. Data on sick leave for the cases of whiplash injuries were analysed to calculate the cost to society for loss of productivity. Results In 2001, the incidence of TBI was 354/100,000/year. The mean age was 23 and 55% were men. Ninety-seven percent of the injuries were classified as mild (Glasgow coma scale 13-15). The main causes were falls (55%) and traffic related injury events (30%). In 8% of the cases (17% of the elderly persons) an intracranial bleeding was detected by using CT. The 3-year follow-up of the MTBI patients showed that women had more symptoms and disability (~50%) than men (~30%). Both women and men had more symptoms and lower life satisfaction compared with the reference population. The incidence of traffic-related whiplash injuries in adults was 235/100,000/year and the annual incidences were relatively stable during 2000-2009. Combining the incidences with national insurance data showed that the proportion of insurance claims decreased during the period. When looking at whiplash trauma following all causes of injury in 2001, traffic crashes caused 61% of the injuries and falls caused 14%. Neck fractures occurred in 3% of the cases. Five years after whiplash injury, the injured persons had more symptoms and lower life satisfaction than the references. Sick leave ≥15 days was granted in 14% of the cases of whiplash injuries. The median number of sick days was 298 and the cost of loss of productivity during the follow-up was 5.6 million USD. The frequencies of symptoms were relatively alike when comparing subjects with whiplash injuries to subjects with MTBI. Conclusion TBI and whiplash injuries are common, especially among young people, and the injuries render long-term symptoms, disability, and impaired life satisfaction in up to 50% of the cases. Symptoms exhibited are alike between the two types of injuries. The cost to society for loss of productivity is high, and there is a need for enhanced preventive measures aiming at reducing traffic-related injuries, sports injuries, alcohol-related injuries, and falls. Physical, mental, and social factors are important and should be addressed when examining and treating patients with persisting symptoms following TBI and whiplash injuries. / Bakgrund Skallskador utgör ett stort folkhälsoproblem, särskilt eftersom många som skadas är unga. Skallskador är också, parallellt med självmord, den vanligaste dödsorsaken hos ungdomar och unga vuxna. De flesta av skadorna klassas som ”lätta” i akutskedet men trots det så kommer en del av patienterna att drabbas av kvarstående besvär, t ex smärta, koncentrationssvårigheter, depression och nedsatt livstillfredsställelse. Whiplashskador är nästan lika vanligt förekommande som skallskador och uppkommer framförallt i trafikolyckor. Även fall- och sportskador orsakar emellertid ett betydande antal whiplashskador. I normalfallet avtar de akuta symptomen inom några veckor men en del av patienterna anger att de får kvarstående besvär. Ett flertal skademekanismer i nackens vävnader är kända men tyvärr svåra att verifiera eller utesluta. Huvudsyfte Att undersöka förekomsten av skallskador och whiplashskador i en väldefinierad population samt beskriva restsymptom, funktions-nedsättningar och livstillfredsställelse hos de drabbade tre till fem år efter skadan. Material och metod Förekomsten av skadorna (Studie I, III och IV) Studierna baseras på skadedatabasen vid Norrlands Universitetssjukhus i Umeå (NUS). I skadedatabasen registreras alla patienter som söker till akutmottagningen efter en skadehändelse, ca 10 000 fall per år. När patienterna anmäler sig i receptionen tilldelas de en skadejournal som de själva fyller i i väntan på att bli undersökta. När patienter inkommer med svårare skador får anhöriga i möjligaste mån fylla i journalen. Primärvårdens jour har under åren för studiens genomförande varit belägen på akutmottagningen under kvällar, nätter och helger vilket inneburit att de få skadefall som konsekvent missats har varit lättare skador som behandlats dagtid på vårdcentralerna i upptagningsområdet.   Långtidsuppföljning (Studie II, III och V) En uppföljande enkätundersökning bestående av ett antal validerade frågeformulär skickades till alla skall- och whiplashskadade patienter i arbetsför ålder tre respektive fem år efter skadehändelsen. De frågeformulär som analyserades var: För symptom: Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) För funktionsnedsättning: Rivermead Head Injury Follow Up Questionnaire (RHFUQ) För livstillfredsställelse: Life Satisfaction-11 (LiSat-11) För smärta (hos de whiplashskadade): Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)  Resultaten från RPQ och LiSat-11 jämfördes med sedan tidigare tillgängligt material från åldersmatchade referenspopulationer. När det gäller de whiplashskadade genomfördes en femårsuppföljning avseende sjukskrivning. Data från Försäkringskassan analyserades och samhällskostnaden för produktionsbortfall beräknades baserat på den genomsnittliga kostnaden för en årsarbetare. Resultat Förekomsten av skallskador vid NUS under 2001 var 354 skadade per 100 000 invånare. Medelåldern på de skadade var 23 år och 55% var män. Andelen lätta skallskador var 97%. Fallolyckor orsakade flest skador (55%) och trafikolyckor var näst vanligast (30%). Minst 17% av patienterna (ofta medelålders personer) var alkoholpåverkade. Hos 8% av patienterna (17% av personer över 65 år) upptäcktes blödningar i hjärnan. I uppföljningen efter tre år noterades att de skallskadade patienterna i arbetsför ålder hade högre symptomfrekvens och lägre livstillfredsställelse än referenspopulationerna. Kvinnorna rapporterade högre förekomst av symptom och funktionsnedsättning än männen. Funktionsnedsättning av varierande grad samt så kallat postkommotionellt syndrom (med förekomst av minst tre specificerade symptom) fanns hos ca 50% av kvinnorna och hos ca 30% av männen. Medelförekomsten av whiplashskador till följd av trafikolyckor var under 2000-2009 235 fall per 100 000 invånare och år. Sammantaget var förekomsten relativt stabil under perioden; en ökning med 1% per år noterades. När siffrorna matchades mot data från Försäkringsförbundet noterades en minskning av andelen försäkringsärenden under perioden. 2001 års incidens av akuta whiplashskador efter alla typer av skadehändelser var 383 skadade per 100 000 invånare. Könsfördelningen var 56% män / 44% kvinnor och medelåldern var 32 år. Trafikolyckor orsakade 61% av whiplashskadorna medan fallolyckor stod för 14%. Frakturer i nacken var ovanliga och hittades hos 3% av patienterna. I femårsuppföljningen av whiplashpatienter i arbetsför ålder noterades att de hade högre frekvens (ca 50%) av symptom samt lägre livstillfredsställelse än referenspopulationerna. Funktionsnedsättning av varierande grad fanns hos ca 50% av patienterna. Kvinnorna skattade sin smärta högre än männen men i övrigt fanns ingen könsskillnad beträffande förekomsten av symptom, funktionsnedsättning och livstillfredsställelse. Vid jämförelse mellan whiplashskadade och skallskadade noterades att förekomsten av symptom med några få undantag inte skilde sig åt mellan grupperna. Fjorton procent av de whiplashskadade blev sjukskrivna i mer än 14 dagar. Sjukskrivningens medianlängd var 298 dagar och i 3% av fallen fortskred sjukskrivningen under hela 5-årsperioden. Trafikskadade sjukskrevs oftare än fallskadade och noterbart är också att nackfrakturer ej resulterade i längre sjukskrivningar än mjukdelsskador. Samhällskostnaden för produktionsbortfall var i snitt ca 600 000 kr per sjukskrivning. Konklusion Avhandlingen bidrar med nya grunddata som ytterligare förstärker bilden av att skallskador och whiplashskador är vanliga och att det framförallt är unga personer som drabbas. Grad och typ av kvarstående besvär är likartade efter båda skadetyper. Samhällskostnaden för skadorna är hög och lämpliga områden för skadepreventivt arbete tycks vara fallskadeprevention, trafikskadeprevention, skadeprevention inom hästsport, fotboll och ishockey samt prevention av alkoholrelaterade skador. Både fysiska, psykologiska och sociala faktorer inverkar på läkningsförloppet och symptombilden efter skadorna och det är viktigt att utvärdera och behandla patienterna med utgångspunkt från detta.

Καθημερινά στα εξωτερικά ιατρεία των νοσοκομείων μας αντιμετωπίζονται πάρα πολλά περιστατικά ελαφρών κρανιοεγκεφαλικων κακώσεων. Πολλά από αυτά ακολουθούνται από παράπονα για εμφάνιση μετατραυματικων συμπτωμάτων όπως ζαλάδες ή και μερικές φορές πιο σοβαρών, το σύνολο των οποίων αποτελούν το μεταδιασεισικό σύνδρομο. Ο συνδυασμός των κρανιοεγκεφαλικών κακώσεων και του μεταδιασεισικού συνδρόμου αποτελούν σοβαρό πρόβλημα στις σύγχρονες κοινωνίες γιατί είναι η αιτία για την επαγγελματική ανικανότητα των πασχόντων αποτελώντας έτσι σοβαρό οικονομικό αντίκτυπο. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η οικοδόμηση ενός εργαλείου υποστήριξης ιατρικών αποφάσεων που θα μπορεί να εκτιμήσει ποσοτικά την πιθανότητα εμφάνισης του μεταδιασεισικού συνδρόμου σε κάποιον ασθενή με ήπια κρανιοεγκεφαλική κάκωση, στηριζόμενο σε προγνωστικούς παράγοντες που αναδείχθηκαν από δεδομένα που συγκεντρώθηκαν στις εξετάσεις που πραγματοποιούνται στα εξωτερικά ιατρεία. Υλικό-Μέθοδοι: Η μελέτη πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Πανεπιστημιακό Γενικό Νοσοκομείο Πατρών, στη Δυτική Ελλάδα. Η συλλογή των μετρήσεων έγινε στα πλαίσια διδακτορικής διατριβής της Νευροχειρουργικής Κλινικής του Τμήματος Ιατρικής Οι μετρήσεις αυτές χρησιμοποιήθηκαν στη παρούσα μελέτη για την εξαγωγή των δικών μας αποτελεσμάτων. Συνολικά καταγράφηκαν μετρήσεις από 539 ασθενείς με ήπια κρανιοεγκεφαλική κάκωση. 223 από αυτούς τους ασθενείς πληρούσαν τα κριτήρια του "Colorado Medical Society Guidelines" για τον καθορισμό της διάσεισης, με μέση ηλικία τα 30 έτη (εύρος: 18.5-57.5). Για την εξαγωγή των αποτελεσμάτων κατασκευάστηκε ένα δίκτυο πεποίθησης και εντάχθηκε στο λογισμικό Netica για την μαθηματική του ανάλυση. Συμπεράσματα: Μετά την εξεργασία των μετρήσεων πρόεκυψαν ενδιαφέροντα αποτελέσματα σχετικά με την πρόβλεψη εμφάνισης του μεταδιασεισικου συνδρόμου. Φάνηκε λοιπόν ότι δυο από τους πλέον σημαντικούς παράγοντες είναι το φύλο και το είδος του ατυχήματος εξαιτίας του οποίου υπέστη ο ασθενής την κρανιοεγκεφαλικη κάκωση. Χαρακτηριστικά μπορούμε να δούμε ότι η πιθανότητα εμφάνισης για μια γυναίκα που ενεπλακη σε αυτοκινητιστικό δυστύχημα είναι 42,7%, ενώ αντίστοιχα για έναν άντρα είναι 19,8%. Επίσης σε μια γυναίκα που δέχτηκε επίθεση η πιθανότητα είναι 37,4%, ενώ για έναν άντρα είναι 16,5%. Μέσω της χρήσης του Δικτύου Πεποίθησης μπορούμε να ξέρουμε από πριν ποιες είναι εκείνες οι μεταβλητές που με την παρουσία τους αυξάνουν ή ελαττώνουν την πιθανότητα εμφάνισης του μεταδιασεισικού συνδρόμου και να ποσοτικοποιήσουμε αυτή την επίδραση. / Outpatient departments in hospitals treat many cases of mild traumatic brain injury daily. Many of these complaints are followed by the appearance of post traumatic symptoms as dizziness or sometimes more serious, which comprise the post-concussion syndrome. The combination of craniocerebral injuries and post-concussion syndrome is a serious problem in modern societies because it is the cause of occupational disability of patients, thus constituting a serious economic impact. The purpose of this study is to combine the main prognostic factors that lead to post-concussion syndrome in an adult Greek population after a traumatic brain injury into a decision support tool that could be useful in the outpatient department. Material-Methods: The study was conducted at the University Hospital of Patras, Western Greece. The collection of the measurements which were used in this study were made in the context of a doctoral thesis of the Neurosurgery Department. Overall, 539 patients with mild head-injuries were recorded. Of these, 223 patients patients met the criteria of "Colorado Medical Society Guidelines" to determine concussion, with a mean age of 30 years (range: 18.5-57.5). Based on these data, a naïve Bayesian Network was constructed and Netica software for the mathematical analysis that followed. Results: The use of the Bayesian Network allows us to measure the impact of certain prognostic factors to the probability of occurrence of post-concussion syndrome. It was found, that two of the most important factors is the gender and the type of accident which the patient suffered a traumatic brain injury. As an example, the estimated probability to develop a post-concussion syndrome for a woman who was involved in a car accident is 42.7%, while for a man is 19.8%. Also, for a woman who was attacked, the probability is 37.4%, while for a man is 16.5%.

Pain is a frequent symptom following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and its experience should be better explored in the field of neuroscience. The aim of the study was to evaluate pain and their care process in adult patients after TBI. A cross-sectional quantitative research developed at the outpatient clinic of the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS) and emergency room of the Emergency Hospital of Sergipe (HUSE), after approval of the ethics committee.Data collection was carried out from August 2016 to May 2017, through interviews with the application form of the evaluation of pain were based on the functional health standards of Marjory Gordon, adapted by Pimenta and Cruz, which includes the McGill pain assessment questionnaire and Scales of verbal and numerical category, besides the analysis of the medical records of 40 patients with TBI. To evaluate the association between ordinal and nominal variables, the Rank-Bisserial correlation (Rrb) we used. The binomial test was applied to assess whether the proportion of cases that CTE pain affected Gordon's functional health standards. The significance level adopted was 5% and the software used was the R Core Team 2017. The results indicated that the patients were mostly young men who suffered TBI with hematoma due to the motorcycle accident and did not use equipments for individual protection.All patients evaluated with had pain ranging from moderate to unbearable or from moderate to severe on the verbal and numerical categories scales respectively. The most painful site in the body diagram was the head region. The descriptors of the most representative McGill questionnaire were the pain characterized as "Sickening", "Throbbing" and "Jumping". There was a shortage of record of the painful complaint in the medical record in the hospital, in contrast there was record of the pain in the totality of the medical records of the outpatient clinic. Most of patients with aggression, falls or other types of occurrence reported moderate pain, while victims of transport accidents presented severe or unbearable pain. Although, all patients had referred feeling pain, and daily life activities were not harmed. It is concluded that pain is a frequent symptom in the patient after the TBI, especially the headache and needs the evaluation of the health team, in order to provide a humanized and qualified care. / A dor é um sintoma frequente após o Trauma Cranioencefálico (TCE) e sua experiência deve ser melhor explorada no campo da neurociência. O estudo objetivou avaliar a dor e seu processo de cuidado em pacientes adultos após o TCE. Pesquisa quantitativa de corte transversal desenvolvido no ambulatório do hospital-escola da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS) e pronto-socorro do Hospital de Urgências de Sergipe (HUSE), após aprovação do comitê de ética. A coleta de dados foi realizada em agosto de 2016 a maio de 2017, por meio de entrevistas com aplicação de formulário de avaliação da dor baseado nos padrões funcionais de saúde de Marjory Gordon, adaptado por Pimenta e Cruz que contempla o questionário de avaliação da dor McGill e escalas de categoria verbal e numérica, além da análise dos prontuários de 40 pacientes com TCE. Para avaliar a associação entre variáveis ordinais e nominais utilizamos a correlação Rank-Bisserial (Rrb). Foi aplicado o teste binomial para avaliar a proporção de casos que a dor pós TCE, afetava os padrões funcionais de saúde de Gordon. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5% e o software utilizado foi o R Core Team 2017. Os resultados apontaram que os pacientes em sua maioria era homens jovens que sofreram lesão cerebral traumática do tipo hematoma decorrente de acidente motociclístico e não utilizavam equipamento de proteção individual. Os pacientes avaliados, afirmaram sentir dor com variação de moderada a insuportável ou de moderada a intensa nas escalas de categorias verbal e numérica respectivamente. O local mais doloroso apontado no diagrama corporal foi a região da cabeça. Os descritores do questionário de McGill, com maior representatividade foram a dor caracterizada como “Enjoada”, “Latejante” e “Pontada”. Houve escassez de registro da queixa dolorosa no prontuário no hospital. Todavia, havia registro da dor na totalidade dos prontuários do ambulatório. A maioria dos pacientes de agressão, queda ou outros tipos de ocorrência relataram dor moderada, enquanto as vítimas de acidentes de transporte apresentaram dor forte ou insuportável. Embora todos pacientes tenham referido sentir dor, a realização das atividades de vida diária não foi prejudicada. Conclui-se que a dor é um sintoma frequente no paciente após o TCE, sobretudo a cefaleia e necessita da avaliação da equipe de saúde, a fim de proporcionar um cuidado humanizado e qualificado. / Aracaju, SE

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are injuries to the brain associated with the transfer of energy from some external source. There are an estimated 1.4 million TBIs each year, and about half are due to transportation crashes (NINDS, 2007). Driver distraction is defined as a process or condition that draws a driver's attention away from driving activities toward a competing activity (Sheridan, 2004) and has been identified as an under-examined issue for TBI populations (Cyr, et al., 2008). The interaction between the cognitive impairments related to TBIs and the competing demands from driver distraction may be especially problematic. The goal of this dissertation is to investigate the effect of driver distraction on individuals with TBI. This dissertation uses several approaches and data sources: crash data, a TBI registry, a survey of TBI drivers, and an on-road driving study of TBI and non-TBI drivers. Results demonstrate that a subset of TBI drivers are more willing to engage in distracting tasks and they are more likely to have received speeding tickets. TBI drivers involved in crashes were less likely to wear seatbelts and were more likely to be involved in multiple crashes compared to all other drivers in crashes. Additionally, a subset of TBI drivers exhibits more risk-taking while driving that may result from the TBI or a predisposition to take risks. A Bayesian approach was used to analyze the effect of distracting tasks on driving performance of TBI drivers in an on-road study. A simulator study of non-TBI drivers was used to develop prior distributions of parameter estimates. The distracting tasks include a CD selecting task, a coin sorting task, and a radio tuning task. All of the tasks contained visual-manual components and the coin sorting task contained an additional cognitive component associated with counting the currency. This suggests that TBI drivers exhibited worse driving performance during a coin sorting task than the non-TBI drivers in terms of the standard deviation of speed and maximum lateral acceleration of the vehicle. This suggests that the cognitive component of the coin sorting task may be causing the decreased performance for the TBI drivers. Across all tasks, TBI drivers spent a larger percent of the task duration looking at the task with a larger number of glances towards the distraction task than the non-TBI drivers. Driver distractions with cognitive components may be especially problematic for TBI drivers. Future work should investigate if this effect is consistent across more complex cognitive driver distraction tasks (e.g., cell phone usage) for this population. Additionally, future work should validate the high proportion of TBI drivers involved in multiple crashes.

INTRODUÇÃO: O Traumatismo Cranioencefálico (TCE) é uma das maiores causas de mortalidade e incapacidade em adultos em todo o mundo. Uma complicação frequente e precoce do TCE é o desenvolvimento de hipertensão intracraniana, cujo diagnóstico e tratamento intensivo geralmente requer monitorização invasiva da pressão intracraniana (PIC); o interesse científico neste campo é crescente. Neste contexto, estudos recentes têm demonstrado que é possível detectar hipertensão intracraniana de forma não-invasiva através da aferição ultrassonográfica do diâmetro da bainha do nervo óptico (BNO), utilizando-se ultrassonografia do nervo óptico (USNO) com insonação pela janela transorbitária. Não se sabe ainda, entretanto, se essa aferição do diâmetro da BNO por USNO tem um real significado prognóstico quando aplicada em pacientes na fase aguda de um TCE. Neste estudo, objetiva-se avaliar o valor prognóstico da aferição do diâmetro da BNO por USNO, avaliada na admissão, em pacientes vítimas de TCE moderado e grave. MÉTODOS: Avaliaramse prospectivamente pacientes vítimas de TCE moderado ou grave (pontuação < 15 na escala de coma de Glasgow [GCS] ou com lesão intracraniana aguda na tomografia de crânio) admitidos na Unidade de Emergência do HCFMRP-USP, com idades entre 18 e 80 anos, de fevereiro/2015 a julho/2015. Após consentimento livre e esclarecido, estes pacientes foram submetidos a avaliação clínica com escalas padronizadas (NOS-TBI), e radiológica (incluindo tomografia de crânio e USNO) e seguidos até sua alta para avaliação cega do seu desfecho funcional (avaliada pela escala modificada de Rankin [mRS]). Após análise univariada, utilizou-se regressão linear e regressão logística multivariada, para identificação de preditores independentes do déficit neurológico (NOS-TBI) e da incapacidade funcional na alta (mRS). Aplicou-se, ainda, curva ROC e estatística C para avaliar a acurácia da USNO em relação incapacidade grave ou óbito intra-hospitalar. RESULTADOS: 70 pacientes foram analisados, sendo 63 (90%) homens, idade média 37,5 ± 15,1 anos, sendo 32 (45%) pacientes com TCE grave e 29 (41%) causados por acidentes de trânsito. Na análise multivariada por regressão linear, o diâmetro médio da BNO (B=4,8; IC 95%: 0,51 a 9,1; p=0,029) e a gravidade do comprometimento do nível de consciência (GCS) na admissão (B=-1,97; IC 95%: -2,9 a -1,0; p<0,001) foram os únicos preditores independentes da severidade do déficit neurológico na alta pela escala NOS-TBI. Na regressão logística multivariada, o diâmetro médio da BNO (OR:2,1; IC 95%:1,1 a 3,9; p=0,021) foi independentemente associado com um escore de mRS>=4 à alta, mesmo após ajuste para idade e GCS na admissão. CONCLUSÕES: Uma maior distensão da bainha do nervo óptico nas primeiras 24 após TCE moderado a grave está independentemente associada a pior déficit neurológico e capacidade funcional à alta. Esses resultados sugerem que a USNO deve ser mais explorada como método com potencial para orientar medidas terapêuticas intensivas de neuroproteção e controle de hipertensão intracraniana na fase aguda do TCE. / BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and disability among adults worldwide. Intracranial hypertension is a frequent and early complication in such patients and its diagnosis and intensive management often require invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP). In this context, recent studies have shown that it is possible to non-invasively detect intracranial hypertension by ultrasound measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), using optic nerve ultrasound (ONUS) with trans-orbital window insonation. It is still unclear, however, whether the ONSD measurement through ONUS has real prognostic significance when applied to patients in the acute phase of a TBI. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of ONSD measurement by ONUS at admission in patients with moderate and severe TBI. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated patients with moderate or severe TBI (score <15 Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] or acute intracranial lesion on CT scan) admitted to the Emergency Unit of HCFMRP- USP, aged 18 to 80 years, from February / 2015 to July / 2015. After informed consent, these patients underwent clinical evaluation with standardized scales (NOS-TBI), and radiological (including CT scan and ONUS), and blinded functional outcome assessment at discharge (assed by modified Rankin Scale - mRS). After univariate analysis, we used linear regression and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of neurological deficit at discharge (NOS-TBI and mRS). We also used ROC Curves and C statistics to evaluate the accuracy of different ONSD cut-offs to identify severe disability and death at discharge. RESULTS: We analyzed 70 patients, 63 (90%) men, mean age 37.5 ± 15.1 years, 32 (45%) with severe TBI, 29 (41%) caused by traffic accidents. After multivariate linear regression analysis, the average diameter of the ONSD (B=4.8; IC 95%: 0.51 a 9.1; p=0.029) and the severity of consciousness impairment (GCS) at admission (B=-1,97; IC 95%: -2,9 a -1,0; p<0,001) were the only independent predictors of neurological deficit severity by the NOS-TBI scale at discharge. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, after age and GCS adjust, the mean ONSD was independently associated with a mRS>=4 at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Increased distension of the optic nerve sheath in the first 24 after a moderate to severe TBI is independently associated with a worse neurological and functional outcome at discharge. Our results indicate that additional studies should be performed to test ONUS as a method with potential to guide intensive therapeutic measures of neuroprotection and intracranial hypertension control in the acute phase after TBI.

INTRODUÇÃO: O Traumatismo Cranioencefálico (TCE) é uma das maiores causas de mortalidade e incapacidade em adultos em todo o mundo. Uma complicação frequente e precoce do TCE é o desenvolvimento de hipertensão intracraniana, cujo diagnóstico e tratamento intensivo geralmente requer monitorização invasiva da pressão intracraniana (PIC); o interesse científico neste campo é crescente. Neste contexto, estudos recentes têm demonstrado que é possível detectar hipertensão intracraniana de forma não-invasiva através da aferição ultrassonográfica do diâmetro da bainha do nervo óptico (BNO), utilizando-se ultrassonografia do nervo óptico (USNO) com insonação pela janela transorbitária. Não se sabe ainda, entretanto, se essa aferição do diâmetro da BNO por USNO tem um real significado prognóstico quando aplicada em pacientes na fase aguda de um TCE. Neste estudo, objetiva-se avaliar o valor prognóstico da aferição do diâmetro da BNO por USNO, avaliada na admissão, em pacientes vítimas de TCE moderado e grave. MÉTODOS: Avaliaramse prospectivamente pacientes vítimas de TCE moderado ou grave (pontuação < 15 na escala de coma de Glasgow [GCS] ou com lesão intracraniana aguda na tomografia de crânio) admitidos na Unidade de Emergência do HCFMRP-USP, com idades entre 18 e 80 anos, de fevereiro/2015 a julho/2015. Após consentimento livre e esclarecido, estes pacientes foram submetidos a avaliação clínica com escalas padronizadas (NOS-TBI), e radiológica (incluindo tomografia de crânio e USNO) e seguidos até sua alta para avaliação cega do seu desfecho funcional (avaliada pela escala modificada de Rankin [mRS]). Após análise univariada, utilizou-se regressão linear e regressão logística multivariada, para identificação de preditores independentes do déficit neurológico (NOS-TBI) e da incapacidade funcional na alta (mRS). Aplicou-se, ainda, curva ROC e estatística C para avaliar a acurácia da USNO em relação incapacidade grave ou óbito intra-hospitalar. RESULTADOS: 70 pacientes foram analisados, sendo 63 (90%) homens, idade média 37,5 ± 15,1 anos, sendo 32 (45%) pacientes com TCE grave e 29 (41%) causados por acidentes de trânsito. Na análise multivariada por regressão linear, o diâmetro médio da BNO (B=4,8; IC 95%: 0,51 a 9,1; p=0,029) e a gravidade do comprometimento do nível de consciência (GCS) na admissão (B=-1,97; IC 95%: -2,9 a -1,0; p<0,001) foram os únicos preditores independentes da severidade do déficit neurológico na alta pela escala NOS-TBI. Na regressão logística multivariada, o diâmetro médio da BNO (OR:2,1; IC 95%:1,1 a 3,9; p=0,021) foi independentemente associado com um escore de mRS>=4 à alta, mesmo após ajuste para idade e GCS na admissão. CONCLUSÕES: Uma maior distensão da bainha do nervo óptico nas primeiras 24 após TCE moderado a grave está independentemente associada a pior déficit neurológico e capacidade funcional à alta. Esses resultados sugerem que a USNO deve ser mais explorada como método com potencial para orientar medidas terapêuticas intensivas de neuroproteção e controle de hipertensão intracraniana na fase aguda do TCE. / BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and disability among adults worldwide. Intracranial hypertension is a frequent and early complication in such patients and its diagnosis and intensive management often require invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP). In this context, recent studies have shown that it is possible to non-invasively detect intracranial hypertension by ultrasound measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), using optic nerve ultrasound (ONUS) with trans-orbital window insonation. It is still unclear, however, whether the ONSD measurement through ONUS has real prognostic significance when applied to patients in the acute phase of a TBI. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of ONSD measurement by ONUS at admission in patients with moderate and severe TBI. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated patients with moderate or severe TBI (score <15 Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] or acute intracranial lesion on CT scan) admitted to the Emergency Unit of HCFMRP- USP, aged 18 to 80 years, from February / 2015 to July / 2015. After informed consent, these patients underwent clinical evaluation with standardized scales (NOS-TBI), and radiological (including CT scan and ONUS), and blinded functional outcome assessment at discharge (assed by modified Rankin Scale - mRS). After univariate analysis, we used linear regression and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of neurological deficit at discharge (NOS-TBI and mRS). We also used ROC Curves and C statistics to evaluate the accuracy of different ONSD cut-offs to identify severe disability and death at discharge. RESULTS: We analyzed 70 patients, 63 (90%) men, mean age 37.5 ± 15.1 years, 32 (45%) with severe TBI, 29 (41%) caused by traffic accidents. After multivariate linear regression analysis, the average diameter of the ONSD (B=4.8; IC 95%: 0.51 a 9.1; p=0.029) and the severity of consciousness impairment (GCS) at admission (B=-1,97; IC 95%: -2,9 a -1,0; p<0,001) were the only independent predictors of neurological deficit severity by the NOS-TBI scale at discharge. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, after age and GCS adjust, the mean ONSD was independently associated with a mRS>=4 at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Increased distension of the optic nerve sheath in the first 24 after a moderate to severe TBI is independently associated with a worse neurological and functional outcome at discharge. Our results indicate that additional studies should be performed to test ONUS as a method with potential to guide intensive therapeutic measures of neuroprotection and intracranial hypertension control in the acute phase after TBI.

Objetivo: Caracterizar os aspectos funcionais de deglutição na população com trauma cranioencefálico (TCE) de um hospital de grande porte, considerando as características clínicas e a gravidade dos indivíduos no momento da admissão hospitalar, utilizando sistemas prognósticos usualmente aplicados no ambiente das unidades de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Participaram do estudo 113 adultos, admitidos em um hospital terciário, com diagnóstico de TCE, submetidos à avaliação fonoaudiológica à beira-leito. As etapas de coleta de dados envolveram: a avaliação fonoaudiológica clínica do risco de broncoaspiração, determinação do nível funcional da deglutição (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System), determinação da gravidade do indivíduo de acordo com a Escala de Coma de Glasgow no momento da avaliação fonoaudiológica, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) no momento da admissão na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva e no dia da avaliação fonoaudiológica. Foram realizadas duas análises com a mesma população: análise 1- de acordo com a gravidade do TCE, análise 2- de acordo com a funcionalidade da deglutição. Resultados: Indicaram que as pontuações baixas na Escala de Coma de Glasgow têm relação com o aumento do tempo de intubação orotraqueal e na piora da funcionalidade da deglutição na avaliação fonoaudiológica. Houve associação entre o maior tempo de intubação, maior tempo de hospitalização, maior número de atendimentos fonoaudiológicos até a reintrodução da dieta via oral e pior funcionalidade da deglutição. A tosse e o escape extraoral foram os sinais clínicos preditores de broncoaspiração no TCE. Após a intervenção fonoaudiológica, o grupo com pior Glasgow apresentou piores resultados na evolução da funcionalidade da deglutição. Em relação ao escore SOFA, os sistemas orgânicos respiratório, cardiovascular e neurológico foram as principais alterações encontradas na população com TCE. É importante entender os mecanismos do TCE nos aspectos neurológico, cognitivo e comportamental para poder utilizar as melhores estratégias na identificação dos indivíduos com pior funcionalidade da deglutição e com necessidade de terapia fonoaudiológica precoce. Conclusão: Ao estabelecer os parâmetros clínicos que podem prever os aspectos relacionados à funcionalidade da deglutição durante a internação hospitalar, é possível auxiliar no gerenciamento e planejamento da reabilitação / Objective: to characterize the swallowing functional aspects in the severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) population in a large hospital considering the clinical features and the subjects\' severity at the moment of hospital admission adopting prediction models usually applied in the intensive care unit environment. Methods: 113 adults participated in the study; they were admitted at a tertiary referral hospital with a TBI diagnosis and were submitted to a bedside speech-language assessment. The data collection steps included: a clinical speech-language assessment for risk of bronchoaspiration, determination of swallowing functional level (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System), determination of individual\'s severity according to the Glasgow Coma Scale at the moment of the speech-language assessment, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) at the moment of admission at the intensive care unit and on the day of the speech-language assessment. Two analyses were carried out with the same population: analysis 1 - according to the trauma severity, analysis 2 - according to the swallowing functionality. Results: The results indicated that low scores in the Glasgow Coma Scale are related to higher orotracheal intubation time and worsening of swallowing functionality in the speech-language assessment. There was a link between higher intubation and hospitalization periods, higher number of speech-language therapies until the reintroduction of oral diet and worse swallowing functionality. Cough and extraoral escape were found as clinical risk factors for bronchoaspiration in the TBI. After the speech-language intervention, the group with worst Glasgow presented worst results in the swallowing functionality progress. With regard to the SOFA score, the respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological organic systems were the main alterations found in the TBI population. It is important to understand the TBI mechanisms in the neurological, cognitive and behavioral aspects to adopt the best strategies in the identification of the subjects with worst swallowing functionality and in need of early speech-language therapy. Conclusion: By establishing the clinical parameters that may foresee aspects related to the swallowing functionality during hospitalization, it is possible to help in the management and planning of rehabilitation