Hoo Young Lee
The Catholic University of Korea, South Korea
Title: Neurogenesis and functional recovery by exposure to an enriched environment in rodent models of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury
Biography
Biography: Hoo Young Lee
Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of emergence from prolonged disorders of consciousness (DOC) during inpatient rehabilitation and to compare temporal dynamics and prognostic power between six neurobehavioral signs of the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) scores on emergence from DOC.
Methods
We retrospectively collected the data of 50 patients who were diagnosed with vegetative state(VS) or minimal state of consciousness(MCS) at admission. Subjects were divided into two subgroups that showed emergence from MCS(EMCS) during neurorehabilitation and that remained VS or MCS. We compared demographic and clinical variables to investigate the best prediction model of EMCS. Moreover, we analyzed the temporal dynamics of six CRS-R neurobehavioral signs which were assessed at intervals of one month during the neurorehabilitation, and identified the signs that significantly predicted EMCS.
Results
Out of 50 patients, 46% showed EMCS. The model incorporating shorter lag time from brain injury onset and absence of intra-axial lesion best predicted EMCS. Also, level of consciousness and total CRS-R score at admission individually showed significant prediction. Other variables such as sex, age at injury onset, cause of brain injury, hydrocephalus, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, cranioplasty, anticonvulsant medication, seizure, and education level did not predict EMCS. Among six signs of CRS-R, auditory subscale showed the most significant correlation to EMCS. Patients denoted slower but greater emergence from MCS in the communication subscale than the motor subscale.
Conclusion
This study revealed that significant recovery of consciousness is observed in patients with prolonged DOC during neurorehabilitation. Shorter lag time and absence of intra-axial lesion were significant predictors for EMCS. Patients in DOC with evidence of higher auditory function were most likely to recover consciousness. These findings should be considered regarding assessment tools and rehabilitative programs that best evaluate and maximize the potential for recovery of consciousness.