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Concurrent Traumatic Brain Injury with Spinal Cord Injury

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Management and Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries

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Abstract

The reported incidence of concomitant brain and spinal cord injuries varies from 25% to more than 60%, depending on the criteria used, especially when the injury mechanism is a motor vehicle collision or a fall. Other factors that increase the risk for a concomitant traumatic brain injury are cervical level spinal cord injury, complete spinal cord injury, and trauma associated with alcohol intoxication. The highest rate of traumatic brain injury occurs in patients with spinal cord injury with C1–C4 levels of injury. There should be increased suspicion for concomitant traumatic brain injury when examining the epidemiology of spinal cord injury caused by high-velocity impact and rapid deceleration events such as motor vehicle accidents. Concurrent traumatic brain injury is evidenced by a history of loss of consciousness; impaired Glasgow Coma Scale that assesses eye opening, verbal response, and best motor response; and/or imaging abnormalities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation Hospital, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, South Korea

    Hyun-Yoon Ko MD, PhD

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  1. Hyun-Yoon Ko MD, PhD
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Ko, HY. (2019). Concurrent Traumatic Brain Injury with Spinal Cord Injury. In: Management and Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7033-4_34

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7033-4_34

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-7032-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-7033-4

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