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Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury
Evidence Reports/Technology Assessments, No. 2
Randall M Chesnut, MD, Principal Investigator, Nancy Carney, PhD, Hugo Maynard, PhD, Patricia Patterson, PhD, N Clay Mann, PhD, and Mark Helfand, MD, EPC Director.
Structured Abstract
Objective:
To examine the evidence for effectiveness of rehabilitation methods at various phases in the course of recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults. Specifically, we addressed five questions about the effectiveness of (1) early rehabilitation in the acute care setting, (2) intensity of acute inpatient rehabilitation, (3) cognitive rehabilitation, (4) supported employment, and (5) care coordination (case management).
Search Strategy:
A MEDLINE search (1976 to 1997), supplemented by searches of HealthSTAR (1995 to 1997), CINAHL (1982 to 1997), PsycINFO (1984 to 1997), and reference lists of key articles.
Selection Criteria:
Broad inclusion criteria were defined for screening eligible abstracts. Two reviewers read each abstract to determine its eligibility. Full articles were included if they met methodologic criteria and were relevant to one of the causal links identified for each major question. Specifically, we included all comparative (controlled) studies, as well as uncontrolled series that had information about the short- or long-term outcomes associated with rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury.
Data Collection and Analysis:
We developed an instrument to record data abstracted from each eligible article. The instrument includes items for patient characteristics, interventions, co-interventions, outcomes, study methods, relevance to the specific research questions, and results of the study. We used a three-level system to rate individual studies. Well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were rated as Class I. RCTs with design flaws, well-done, prospective, quasiexperimental or longitudinal studies, and case-control studies were rated as Class II. Case reports, uncontrolled case series, and expert or consensus opinion were generally rated Class III. Comparative studies that met inclusion criteria were critically appraised and summarized in evidence tables.
Main Results:
A total of 3,098 references were specified for inclusion. After removal of duplicates, 569 applied to questions 1 and 2, 600 applied to question 3, 392 applied to question 4, and 975 applied to question 5. Eighty-seven articles pertaining to questions 1 and 2, 114 articles for question 3, 93 articles for question 4, and 69 articles for question 5 passed the eligibility screen. Sixty-seven additional articles were recommended for inclusion by experts or were obtained from reference lists of review articles. There was weak evidence from Class III studies that early rehabilitation during the acute admission reduces the rehabilitation length of stay. Studies of the intensity of acute inpatient rehabilitation had inconsistent results and used study designs that, despite appropriate use of statistical methods to adjust for severity, had serious limitations because of confounders. Controlled trials of cognitive rehabilitation had mixed results, with the strongest evidence (Class I) supporting the use of prosthetic aids to memory. Well-done, prospective observational studies (Class II) support the use of supported employment within the context of well-designed, well-coordinated programs. From one Class II clinical trial, there was no support for case management, but two well-done Class III studies support the use of case management to produce functional improvements.
Conclusions:
Population-based studies are needed to examine the overall impact of TBI and the differences in outcomes associated with different rehabilitation strategies. Future studies of cognitive rehabilitation and case management should focus on health outcomes of importance to people with TBI and their families.
Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Preface
- Summary
- 1. Introduction and Background
- 2. Methods
- 3. Results
- Question 1: Should interdisciplinary rehabilitation begin during the acute hospitalization for traumatic brain injury?
- Question 2: Does the intensity of inpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation affect long-term outcomes?
- Question 3: Does the application of compensatory cognitive rehabilitation enhance outcomes for people who sustain TBI?
- Question 4: Does the application of supported employment enhance outcomes for people with TBI?
- Question 5: Does the provision of long-term care coordination enhance the general functional status of people with TBI?
- 4. Conclusions and Summary of Findings
- List of Abbreviations
- Evidence Tables
- Appendix 1. Question Text and Characteristics
- Appendix 2. Search Strings
- Appendix 3. Computations of Cohen's Kappa
- Appendix 4. Initial Abstraction Instrument
- Appendix 5. Project Personnel
- References
- Bibliography
Prepared for: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.1 Contract No. 290-97-0018. Prepared by: Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR.
Suggested citation:
Chesnut RM, Carney N, Maynard H, et al. Rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury. Evidence report no. 2 (Contract 290-97-0018 to Oregon Health Sciences University). Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. February 1999.
The authors of this report are responsible for its content. Statements in the report should not be construed as endorsement by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of a particular drug, device, test, treatment, or other clinical service.
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2101 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20852. www
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- Review Toward improved rehabilitation services for ethnically diverse survivors of traumatic brain injury.[J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2007]Review Toward improved rehabilitation services for ethnically diverse survivors of traumatic brain injury.Niemeier J, Carlos Arango-Lasprilla J. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2007 Mar-Apr; 22(2):75-84.
- Rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury. Current guidelines and beyond.[Eura Medicophys. 2006]Rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury. Current guidelines and beyond.Taricco M, Liberati A. Eura Medicophys. 2006 Mar; 42(1):69-71.
- Best practices in veteran traumatic brain injury care.[J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2012]Best practices in veteran traumatic brain injury care.Uomoto JM. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2012 Jul-Aug; 27(4):241-3.
- Cognitive rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury in adults.[Technol Eval Cent Assess Progr...]Cognitive rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury in adults.. Technol Eval Cent Assess Program Exec Summ. 2008 May; 23(3):1-3.
- Review Randomized controlled trials in adult traumatic brain injury.[Brain Inj. 2012]Review Randomized controlled trials in adult traumatic brain injury.Lu J, Gary KW, Neimeier JP, Ward J, Lapane KL. Brain Inj. 2012; 26(13-14):1523-48.
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