Head injury in children and teenagers; functional recovery correlated with the duration of coma.

Residual impairments and mortality were assessed in 48 patients under 20 years of age at least two years after a traumatic head injury had caused coma lasting more than seven days. In this study the duration of coma was defined as the period of time when it is impossible to establish intellectual contact with the patient. A classification of functional levels 1 to 8 was used to identify the residual impairment and relate this impairment to the duration of coma for each patient. Of 30 patients who remained in coma less than three month, only one did not have independent ambulation with or without equipment at the time of his last follow-up evaluation. This was one parameter among others to show that the prognosis for recovery in this age group is much better than expected following severe head injury. These follow-up data, correlated with the duration of coma, can assist rehabilitation personnel in the prognostic planning for younger people with severe head injuries. Rehabilitation medicine needs to be involved in patient care during the period of coma to prevent contractures and other complications which often interfere with and delay later rehabilitation programs, making them more costly and less successful.