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Objectives: To assess predictors and indicators of disability and quality-of-life 4 years after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), using structural equation modelling (SEM). Methods: The PariS-TBI study is a longitudinal multi-centre inception cohort study of 504 patients with severe TBI. Among 245 survivors, 147 patients were evaluated upon 4-year follow-up, and 85 completed the full assessment. Two outcome measures were analysed separately using SEM: the Glasgow Outcome Scale-extended (GOS-E), to measure disability, and the QOLIBRI, to assess quality-of-life. Four groups of variables were entered in the model: demographics; injury severity; mood and cognitive impairments; somatic impairments. Results: The GOS-E was directly significantly related to mood and cognition, injury severity, and somatic impairments. Age and education had an indirect effect, mediated by mood/cognition or somatic deficiencies. In contrast, the only direct predictor of QOLIBRI was mood and cognition. Age and somatic impairments had an indirect influence on the QOLIBRI. Conclusion: Although this study should be considered as explorative, it suggests that disability and quality-of-life were directly influenced by different factors. While disability appeared to result from an interaction of a wide range of factors, quality-of-life was solely directly related to psycho-cognitive factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Primary objective: To determine the features of stroke-related HO in a large sample of patients and to assess if HO risk is increased by haemorrhagic stroke. Research design: A case control study (risk factor of a rare event using retrospective analysis). Methods and procedures: Sixty-one patients with stroke-81 troublesome HOs-were included, each was matched with four controls, i.e. 244 patients with no HO after stroke. Matching criteria were age (±3.5 years) and sex. Data recorded were time from stroke to surgery, ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke and presence of HO risk factors. Main outcomes and results: Mean age at time of stroke = 46.02 ± 11.4 years (15.9-76.3) for the case sub-group. Time from stroke to surgery = 23.4 ± 27.8 months (3.6-150.0). There was a significant relationship between haemorrhagic stroke and HO development (OR = 3.01; 95% CI = 1.14-7.98; p < 0.05), but not for ischaemic stroke. This became non-significant when all matching and risk factors were included in the model (adjusted OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 0.60-6.54; p = 0.26). Conclusion: Haemorrhagic stroke appears to increase the risk of HO development. Further studies are required to determine if this risk factor is independent from other comorbid factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess brain injury services utilization and their determinants using Andersen's model. Methods: Prospective follow-up of the PariS-TBI inception cohort. Out of 504 adults with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), 245 survived and 147 received a 4-year outcome assessment (mean age 33 years, 80% men). Provision rates of medical, rehabilitation, social and re-entry services and their relations to patients' characteristics were assessed. Results: Following acute care discharge, 78% of patients received physiotherapy, 61% speech/cognitive therapy, 50% occupational therapy, 41% psychological assistance, 63% specialized medical follow-up, 21% community re-entry assistance. Health-related need factors, in terms of TBI severity, were the main predictors of services. Provision of each therapy was significantly associated with corresponding speech, motor and psychological impairments. However, care provision did not depend on cognitive impairments and cognitive therapy was related to predisposing and geographical factors. Community re-entry assistance was provided to younger and more independent patients. Conclusions: These quantitative findings illustrate strengths and weaknesses of late brain injury care provision in urban France and highlight the need to improve treatment of cognitive impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A number of studies report neurological and cognitive deficits and behavioural disorders in children after surgical treatment for a benign cerebellar tumour. The present study explores functional outcome in adolescents and adults treated for a low-grade cerebellar astrocytoma in childhood. Materials and methods: Participants were 18 adolescents and 46 adults treated for low-grade astrocytoma in childhood. Academic achievement, professional status and neurological, cognitive and behavioural disturbances were collected using self-completed and parental questionnaires for adolescents and phone interview for adults. For the adolescent group, a control group filled in the same questionnaires. Results: Mean time lapse from surgery was 7.8 years for adolescents and 12.9 years for adults. Five adults (11%) had major sequelae related to post-operative complications, post-operative mutism and/or brain stem involvement. All the other participants presented close-to-normal academic achievement and normal autonomy, despite a high rate of reported cognitive difficulties and difficulties related to mild neurological sequelae (fine motor skills, balance). Conclusion: The long-term functional outcome of low-grade cerebellar astrocytoma is generally favourable, in the absence of post-operative complications and brain stem involvement. No major impact of neurological deficits, cognitive problems and emotional disorders on academic achievement and independent functioning was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To describe the long-term disorders of consciousness in patients with dysautonomia and hypertonia treated with intrathecal baclofen therapy (IBT). Methods and procedures: Forty-three patients with severe traumatic brain injuries who were previously implanted with an intrathecal baclofen pump were included to be evaluated in the long-term with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. The Barthel Index, the Glasgow Outcome Scale, the Ashworth scale, the scores of hypertonic attacks, of sweating episodes and of voluntary motor responses were used to describe functional abilities and residual impairments. A retrospective analysis highlighted patients' characteristics at admission, before surgery and their complications. Main outcomes and results: After a mean follow-up of 10 years, nine of 43 (20.9%) patients had died, 13/43 (30.2%) patients were severely disabled or in an unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and 21/43 (48.8%) patients had good recovery of consciousness. The latter patients tended to receive IBT later, suggesting a later development of uncontrolled symptoms of dysautonomia and hypertonia. They needed lower doses of baclofen, suggesting that they had less severe symptoms. Their dysautonomia, limb hypertonia and voluntary motor responses improved significantly compared to patients with poor outcome. Conclusions: Recovery of good long-term consciousness is possible. A low level of consciousness recovery and the early development of severe and persistent symptoms of dysautonomia associated with hypertonia could be linked to poor long-term outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: The aim of the study was the validation of the Deasy-Spinetta Questionnaire (DSQ) in 6-11 year olds with attention to the verification of three factors (learning difficulties, socialization and emotionality) and its application in children treated for cerebellar tumour. Methods and procedures: Twenty-nine children aged between 6-11 years were compared with 609 classmates. Teachers completed the DSQ. Patients were evaluated according to Wechsler Scales, the Purdue Pegboard and the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating scale. Main outcomes and results: In classmates, the DSQ factorial analysis showed three factors: learning, socialization difficulties and disturbing behaviour. Teachers reported more learning difficulties in patients than in classmates. Learning difficulties in patients were greater for mathematics and reasoning than for reading. Patients were described as less active, without evidence of autistic-like behaviour or irritability. The teachers' report of learning difficulties was significantly correlated with IQ scores, but not with neurological deficits. Conclusions: The proposed DSQ scores are interesting for the assessment of learning and behavioural difficulties in children treated for cerebellar tumours, as they provide complementary ecological information to that given by clinical and neuropsychological testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]