Citation

Königs M, Beurskens EA, Snoep L, Scherder EJA, Oosterlaan J. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2018; 99(6): 1149-1159.e1.

Affiliation

Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Clinical Neuropsychology Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apmr.2018.01.013

PMID

29428344

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review evidence on the effects of timing and intensity of neurorehabilitation on the functional recovery of patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and aggregate the available evidence using meta-analytic methods. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Database. DATA SELECTION: Electronic databases were searched for prospective controlled clinical trials assessing the effect of timing or intensity of multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation programs on functional outcome of patients with moderate or severe TBI. A total of 5,961 unique records were screened for relevance, of which 58 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility by two independent authors. Eleven articles were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Two independent authors performed data extraction and risk of bias analysis using the Cochrane Collaboration Tool. Discrepancies between authors were resolved by consensus. DATA SYNTHESIS: Systematic review of a total of six randomized controlled trials, one quasi-randomized trails and four controlled trials revealed consistent evidence for a beneficial effect of early onset neurorehabilitation in the trauma center and intensive neurorehabilitation in the rehabilitation facility on functional outcome, as compared to usual care. Meta-analytic quantification revealed a large-sized positive effect for early onset rehabilitation programs (d = 1.02, p <.001, 95%-confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-1.47) and a medium-sized positive effect for intensive neurorehabilitation programs (d = 0.67, p <.001. 95%-CI: 0.38-0.97) as compared to usual care. These effects were replicated based on solely studies with a low overall risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence indicates that early onset neurorehabilitation in the trauma center and more intensive neurorehabilitation in the rehabilitation facility promote functional recovery of patients with moderate to severe TBI as compared to usual care. These findings support the integration of early onset and more intensive neurorehabilitation in the chain of care for patients with TBI.

Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Functional Outcome; Intensity; Meta-Analysis; Neurorehabilitation; Systematic Review; Timing; Traumatic Brain Injury