REHABILITATION OF MODERATE TO SEVERE TBI: COMA: GOALS OF EARLY REHABILITATION

  • Assist and hasten the patient's progress from the late stages of unconsciousness, through the resolution of posttraumatic amnesia and agitation, to a level of minimal independence in activities of daily living
  • Early treatment with drugs that counteract the acute excitotoxic effects of calcium loading

Early rehabilitation takes place on the trauma or neurosurgical service and requires that the patient tolerate at least 3 hours of therapy, 5 times a week

Based on information in Medical Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury, L.J. Horn and N.D. Zasler, eds. St. Louis, MO, Mosby, 1996, except for information where other papers are cited.