The Relationship between Acute Functional Status and Long-Term Ambulation after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective. To correlate long-term physical impairments of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) based on their functional status in an acute care setting. Methods. 46 patients with sTBI participated in this prospective study. The Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) and the FIM instrument were rated at discharge from the acute care setting and at followup. The Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC), the Five-Meter Gait Speed, a quantified measure of negotiating stairs (Stair Climbing Speed and Rails used), and the functional reach test were rated at followup. Results. The subject with a score of 6 on the GOSE at discharge remained nonfunctional ambulator at followup. None of the subjects with a GOSE score of 5 became independent ambulators. Fifty percent of the subjects with a GOSE score of 4 were dependent ambulators. 100% of the subjects with a GOSE score of 2 or 3 at discharge were independent ambulators. A higher FIM score at discharge was associated with a greater chance of ambulating independently at 2 to 5 years after TBI (χKW22df). Conclusions. These data will allow physical health professionals in acute rehabilitation settings to provide more precise long-term physical outcome information to patients and families.