POSTTRAUMATIC AMNESIA - ITS RELATION TO FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME

Objective: To investigate the relation between duration of posttraumat ic amnesia (PTA) and functional outcome in a traumatically brain injur ed population. Patients: Two hundred seventy-six patients with traumat ic brain injury (TBI) who were admitted to a Level I university trauma center and required inpatient rehabilitation. Measures: Duration of P TA was assessed by serial administrations of the Galveston Orientation Amnesia Test (GOAT). Functional Independence Measure (FIM) total scor es, FIM cognitive and motor subscores, and Disability Rating Scale (DR S) scores were obtained at admission and discharge from inpatient reha bilitation. Results: Duration of PTA was a significant predictor of al l admission and discharge DRS and FIM scores. Duration of PTA and age at the time of injury, in combination, contributed significantly to th e prediction of the DRS score and FIM total, cognitive, and motor scor es at discharge. Conclusion: Duration of PTA appears to be a useful va riable in predicting specific functional outcome in the TBI population receiving inpatient rehabilitation services. The use of age as a fact or in addition to duration of PTA enhances the prediction of functiona l outcome. (C) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicin e and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.