Functional outcomes in patients with co-occurring traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury from an inpatient rehabilitation facility’s perspective

This study looks at how people with both a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a spinal cord injury (SCI) – called a dual diagnosis (DD) – do in inpatient rehabilitation compared to people with only SCI. The researchers reviewed medical records to find people with both injuries and compared their length of stay, where they went after rehab, and how well they could do things on their own. The study found that people with more severe TBI in addition to their SCI were less likely to go home after rehab and weren't as efficient at learning motor skills.

• 1
  Forty-one percent of persons with traumatic SCI experienced co-occurring TBI.
• 2
  Those with Moderate-Severe DD had significantly lower Total admission FIM, Cognitive admission and discharge FIM and Motor FIM efficiency scores compared to those with SCI only
• 3
  Moderate-Severe DD were significantly less likely to discharge home compared to those with SCI only.