A prospective analysis of the recovery of attention following 
pediatric head injury

Little is known about specific attentional sequelae following a closed head injury, their pattern of recovery or their interaction with ongoing development. The present study examined attentional abilities in a group of children who had sustained a mild, moderate, or severe head injury. Results showed that the severe head injury group exhibited greater deficits on a number of attentional measures at acute and 6 months postinjury phases, in comparison to children in the mild and moderate head injury groups. Specifically, deficits were most evident on timed tasks where speed of processing was an integral component. Difficulties persisted to at least 6 months postinjury and so may lead to cumulative deficits over time. (JINS, 1999, 5, 48–57.)

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Antidepressants Not Effective in Headache Associated with Minor Closed Head Injury

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine ◽

10.2190/15ah-jb7q-u94t-jeaf ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 75-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Avtar Saran

Keyword(s):

Head Injury ◽

Muscle Contraction ◽

No Reduction ◽

Closed Head Injury ◽

Control Group ◽

Depression Group ◽

Injury Group ◽

Closed Head

The author compared the response to amitriptyline in headache associated with depression between twelve patients having primary depression (control group) and ten patients with depression after minor closed head injury. In the primary depression group, there was significant reduction in headache and improvement in depression. The minor closed head injury group did not show significant reduction in headache or improvement in depression. The latter group, upon further treatment with phenelzine also showed no reduction in headache or improvement in depression. Results of this study question the earlier reports of the usefulness of amitriptyline in chronic muscle contraction headache and depression associated with minor closed head injury.

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Severe Head Injury: Clinicians’ Awareness of the Literature

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100009124 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 458-471

Author(s):

Michael J Jacka ◽

Amanda Roze Des Ordons ◽

David Zygun

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

Head Injury ◽

Severe Head Injury ◽

Closed Head Injury ◽

Research Translation ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Frequency Of Use ◽

Closed Head

Objectives:1. To determine the awareness of the literature concerning therapeutic manoeuvres in severe closed head injury (CHI) among Canadian critical care clinicians and neurosurgeons, 2. To identify factors that affect utilization of these manoeuvres, and 3. To compare reported appropriateness and frequency of use with #1 and #2.Methods:The study design was a systematic scenario-based survey of all neurosurgeons and critical care physicians treating patients with severe CHI in Canada.Results:Fifty-nine of 99 neurosurgeons and 82 of 148 critical care physicians responded (57%). The majority of respondents were not able to identify the highest level of published evidence for most manoeuvres, except for the avoidance of corticosteroids (51%). The factor identified by most respondents as being most important in motivating use of any given manoeuvres was the level of published evidence (25%). Although reported appropriateness and frequency of use of most manoeuvres correlated well with each other, they did not correlate with awareness of evidence. In the case of corticosteroids, there was a strong correlation between non-use of steroids and awareness of evidence (R = - 0.30, p = 0.0003).Conclusions:Respondents to this survey of Canadian physicians treating patients with severe head injury reported published evidence as being the most significant factor affecting use of a therapy. However, most respondents did not correctly identify the highest published level of evidence for most therapies. This study has identified difficulty with research translation that may have clinical implications.

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Social interaction and speed of information processing following very severe head-injury

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291700011120 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 175-182 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Hamish P. D. Godfrey ◽

Robert G. Knight ◽

Nigel V. Marsh ◽

Bernadette Moroney ◽

Samir N. Bishara

Keyword(s):

Information Processing ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Head Injury ◽

Closed Head Injury ◽

Personality Change ◽

Control Group ◽

Observation Data ◽

Speed Of Information Processing ◽

Injury Group ◽

Closed Head

SynopsisEighteen adults who had suffered a very severe closed head-injury more than 18 months previously and required long-term rehabilitative support were compared with a closely matched control group. Unlike previous studies, which have reported negative personality change involving an increase in aversive behaviour, our behavioural observation data suggest that a global reduction in behavioural productivity, or negative symptomatology, characterizes social interaction by this group. This resulted in their being judged less socially skilled, less likeable and less interesting, and thus less reinforcing to interact with. Speed of information processing was specifically impaired for the closed head-injury group, although this did not correlate with global behavioural ratings of social interaction behaviour. It is suggested that low behavioural productivity may be associated with family burden, and that the low quantity of social interaction experienced by severely head-injured adults may reflect the unreinforcing nature of their interactions.

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Speed of processing within semantic memory following severe closed head injury

Brain and Cognition ◽

10.1016/0278-2626(91)90064-f ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 31-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Marc W. Haut ◽

Thomas V. Petros ◽

Robert G. Frank ◽

Jennifer S. Haut

Keyword(s):

Head Injury ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Closed Head Injury ◽

Speed Of Processing ◽

Closed Head

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An Examination of the Impact of Participation in a Conversation Group for Individuals with a Closed Head Injury

South African Journal of Communication Disorders ◽

10.4102/sajcd.v48i1.733 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 3-20

Author(s):

Glenn Goldblum ◽

Marna Mulder ◽

Alexandra Von Gruenewaldt

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Head Injury ◽

Group Therapy ◽

Closed Head Injury ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Closed Head ◽

Social Communicative ◽

The Impact ◽

Over Time

This study describes the impact of participation in a conversational group for individuals with chronic closed head injury in the Department of Communication Pathology at the University of Pretoria over the period 1995-2000. The information was obtained through a combination of clinical observations by the writers; the examination of data from Pragmatic measures; and a Quality of Life Scale that was compiled and administered (to both the subjects and their significant others) examining the perceived effects of group therapy over time. The results showed that despite the plateauing of pragmatic competence over time, the impact of group therapy appeared to reveal itself in perceived improvements in social-communicative competence and quality of life by the subjects. Recommendation and suggestions were made for the refinement of the QOL Scale to more reliably measure the subjective perceptions of group members regarding the perceived value of group therapy. In addition to addressing future implications to move the conversation group forward, the results of the current study lead the authors to advocate the establishment of conversation groups for individuals with CHI who are suitable candidates.

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Intraventricular hemorrhage in severe head injury

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1983.58.2.0217 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 217-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Francisco Cordobés ◽

Marina de la Fuente ◽

Ramiro D. Lobato ◽

Ricardo Roger ◽

Carlos Pérez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head Injury ◽

Intraventricular Hemorrhage ◽

Severe Head Injury ◽

Closed Head Injury ◽

Clinical Findings ◽

Brain Lesions ◽

Deep Coma ◽

Content Type ◽

Closed Head ◽

Diffuse Brain

✓ A series of 30 patients suffering posttraumatic intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) after closed head injury is reviewed. Clotted blood and a mixture of blood and cerebrospinal fluid could be distinguished by computerized tomography (CT). Posttraumatic IVH was associated with diffuse brain lesions in most cases; intracerebral lesions with contusion, and subdural hematomas coexisted with posttraumatic IVH in eight and four instances, respectively. In two more cases, no CT abnormality other than IVH was noted. All patients in this series were in deep coma at the time of CT examination, and only seven survived. The early clinical findings, the site of ventricular hematoma, and the final outcome are analyzed.

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Acute Medical Care of Severe Head Injury Is Not Enough

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.77.2.251 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 251-251

Author(s):

JOHN M. FREEMAN

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Head Injury ◽

Severe Head Injury ◽

Closed Head Injury ◽

Trauma Centers ◽

Surgical Team ◽

Closed Head ◽

Acute Medical Care ◽

Increased Pressure

As indicated by Jacobson et al in this issue (Pediatrics 1986;77:236) significant head trauma is a major and frequent occurrence in adolescents and in younger children as well. The major advances in emergency medical services—helicopter transport, trauma centers, and management of increased pressure—has had dramatic effects on the survival rate and, probably, on the quality of survival of children with closed head injury. However, discharge from the hospital of a child who is able to walk, although often considered the end point by the surgical team, is clearly not sufficient for the parent and child. As Jacobson and his colleagues indicate, discharge is not the end but the start of many problems.

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