Affiliations: [a] Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York, NY, USA | [b] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA | [c] Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research, Salt Lake City, UT, USA | [d] Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, UT, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence Marcel Dijkers, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Box 1240, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. Tel.: +1 212 659 8587; Fax.: 212 348 5901; E-mail: marcel.dijkers@mssm.edu
Abstract: Background:Elderly persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are increasingly admitted to inpatient rehabilitation, but we have limited knowledge of their characteristics, the treatments they receive, and their short-term and medium-term outcomes. This study explored these issues by means of comparisons between age groups. Methods:Data on 1419 patients admitted to 9 inpatient rehabilitation facilities for initial rehabilitation after TBI were collected by means of (1) abstraction from medical records; (2) point-of care forms completed by therapists after each treatment session; and (3) interviews at 3 months and 9 months after discharge, conducted with the patient or a proxy. Results:Elderly persons (65 or older) had a lower brain injury severity, and a shorter length of stay (LOS) in acute care. During rehabilitation, they received fewer hours of therapy, due to a shorter LOS and fewer hours of treatment per day, especially from psychology and therapeutic recreation. They regained less functional ability during and after inpatient rehabilitation, and had a very high mortality rate. Conclusions:Elderly people can be rehabilitated successfully, and discharged back to the community. The treatment therapists deliver, and issues surrounding high mortality need further research.
