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Relation of visual field defects to neuropsychological outcome after closed head injury

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Summary

Neuropsychological outcome within two years after injury was determined in 159 head injured patients who were classified into three groups according to the presence of either unilateral, bilateral, or no visual field defects (VFDs). The VFDs occurred irrespective of injury severity as determined by the Glasgow coma scale, or social outcome as determined by the Glasgow outcome scale. Differences among the three visual field groups were obtained for several neuropsychological functions: intelligence, memory, learning, acquired verbal skills, visuospatial skills, and visuomotor speed. Patients with bilateral VFDs were more severely impaired neuropsychologically than those with unilateral or no VFDs. Occurrences of secondary complications (brain swelling, intracranial hypertension, and hyperemia) were more prevalent among the bilateral VFD cases. The findings suggested that bilateral VFDs may be indicators of increased brain damage from secondary insults.

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Author notes

  1. B. P. Uzzell

    Present address: Division of Neurosurgery and Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosurgery and Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

    W. D. Obrist, C. A. Dolinskas, T. W. Langfitt & R. F. Wiser

Authors
  1. B. P. Uzzell
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  2. W. D. Obrist
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  3. C. A. Dolinskas
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  4. T. W. Langfitt
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  5. R. F. Wiser
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Additional information

This study was supported by NS 08803 from the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Communicative Disorders and Stroke.

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Uzzell, B.P., Obrist, W.D., Dolinskas, C.A. et al. Relation of visual field defects to neuropsychological outcome after closed head injury. Acta neurochir 86, 18–24 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01419499

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