DESCRIPTIVE FINDINGS FROM THE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY MODEL SYSTEMS NATIONAL DATA-BASE

To describe the current status of the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Sys tems (TBIMS) National Data Base and present major descriptive findings based on the original research and demonstration issues for which the database was developed, and to describe patient outcomes at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and at 1 year post injury Design: Prosp ective, longitudinal multicenter study. Setting: TBIMS located at the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Va; Wayne State University/Reha bilitation Institute of Michigan, Detroit, Mich; The Institute for Reh abilitation and Research, Houston, Tex; and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, Calif. Data Set: Demographic, diagnostic, treatment , and outcome data on 660 individuals consecutively discharged from th e four TBIMS between March 1989 and September 1995. Results: TBIMS ind ividuals are typically in their mid-30s, male (77%), and white (51%); have a high school education or less (71%); and are as likely as not t o be employed at the time of injury (50%). Vehicle-related injuries ar e the leading cause of injury (56%). Individuals tend to suffer modera te to severe brain injuries, with 77% experiencing loss of consciousne ss and 98% experiencing. posttraumatic amnesia. The average combined l ength of stay for acute care and inpatient rehabilitation decreased ap proximately 25%, from 83 days in 1989 in 63 days in 1994. The Function al Independence Measure scores indicated overall functional improvemen t from an average level of requiring ''Moderate Assistance'' at the ti me of rehabilitation admission to an average level between ''Moderate Independence'' and ''Complete Independence'' at 1 year post injury. As indicated by the Community Integration Questionnaire, individuals ten ded to do best in the social aspects of community integration and wors t in productivity. Conclusion: This article addresses the original res earch and demonstration issues posed by the creators of the TBIMS Nati onal Data Base. It describes the TBIMS population and presents outcome s at rehabilitation discharge acid at 1 year post injury. This informa tion provides a benchmark for future study.