Recovery from coma after traumatic brain injury 'common'
Neurologists urge caution in decisions to withdraw life-support because of the better-than-expected functional outcomes shown in a large cohort
Four out of five people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) who still have disorders of consciousness when entering in-hospital rehabilitation will be discharged capable of following instructions, a large study shows.
The findings mean that doctors and relatives should be cautious about withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy primarily on the basis of unconsciousness, lest the issue becomes a “self-fulfilling prophesy”, the US researchers say.
The study drew on data for almost 17,500 US patients (mean