Dataset Information

Extended tests for evaluating post-traumatic brain injury deficits in resource-limited settings: methods and pilot study data.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of all injury-related deaths and disabilities in the world, especially in low to middle-income countries (LMICs) which also suffer from lower levels of funding for all levels of the health care system for patients suffering from TBI. These patients do not generally get comprehensive diagnostic workup, monitoring, or treatment, and return to work too quickly, often with undiagnosed post-traumatic deficits which in turn can lead to subsequent incidents of physical harm.

Methods

Here, we share methods and results from our research project to establish innovative, simple, and scientifically based practices that dramatically leverage technology and validated testing strategies to identify post-TBI deficits quickly and accurately, to circumvent economic realities on the ground in LMICs. We utilized paper tests such as the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), line-bisection, and Bell's test. Furthermore, we combined modifications of neuroscience computer tasks to aid in assessing peripheral vision, memory, and analytical accuracies. Data from seventy-one subjects (51 patients and 20 controls, 15 females and 56 males) from 4 hospitals in Ethiopia are presented. The traumatic brain injury group consists of 17 mild, 28 moderate, and 8 severe patients (based on the initial Glasgow Comma Score). Controls are age and education-matched subjects (no known history of TBI, brain lesions, or spatial neglect symptoms).

Results

We found these neurophysiological methods can: 1) be implemented in LMICs and 2) test impairments caused by TBI, which generally affect brain processing speed, memory, and both executive and cognitive controls.

Discussion

The main findings indicate that these examinations can identify several deficits, especially the MoCA test. These tests show great promise to assist in the evaluation of TBI patients and support the establishment of dedicated rehabilitation centers. Our next steps will be expansion of the cohort size and application of the tests to other settings.

SUBMITTER: Semework M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11199529 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Extended tests for evaluating post-traumatic brain injury deficits in resource-limited settings: methods and pilot study data.

Semework Mulugeta M Laeke Tsegazeab T Aklilu Abenezer Tirsit AT Tadele Abraham A Ashagre Yordanos Y Teklewold Peter P Kolias Angelos G AG Hutchinson Peter P Balcha Abel A Yohannes Dagnachew D Hassen Getaw Worku GW

Frontiers in neurology 20240612

<h4>Introduction</h4>Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of all injury-related deaths and disabilities in the world, especially in low to middle-income countries (LMICs) which also suffer from lower levels of funding for all levels of the health care system for patients suffering from TBI. These patients do not generally get comprehensive diagnostic workup, monitoring, or treatment, and return to work too quickly, often with undiagnosed post-traumatic deficits which in turn ...[more]

PMID: 38933324

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Dataset Information

Extended tests for evaluating post-traumatic brain injury deficits in resource-limited settings: methods and pilot study data.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Extended tests for evaluating post-traumatic brain injury deficits in resource-limited settings: methods and pilot study data.

Similar Datasets

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