Study examined the impact of environmental barriers reported by people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their employment, community mobility, social integration, and life satisfaction outcomes. Participants were surveyed using the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors, which rates the frequency and impact of 25 barriers. Results showed that ...
Dr. Kirksey demonstrated early leadership skills when she was elected Chief Resident during her residency. She has continued her leadership role in the UAB-SCIMS by assuming direction of the inpatient SCI rehabilitation team and service, serving as ...
Article discusses the feasibility of using observational studies as an alternative to randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for assessing the effectiveness of traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation. While RCTs have been regarded as the gold standard for evidence of treatment efficacy, ethical, scientific, and resource factors may limit the expansion ...
Article discusses the results from the initial evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Moss Attention Rating Scale, an instrument designed to assess attention-related behaviors in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Overall, the initial results support the feasibility of using the scale in inpatient TBI rehabilitation. Further research ...
Article describes the prevalence and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among 709 consecutive patients admitted for initial neurorehabilitation following brain injury, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), primary brain tumor, and hypoxia/other. The admission screening protocol combined venous duplex ultrasonography (VDU) and a commercial D-dimer ...
Article reviews studies that examine the use of neurophysiologic techniques such as H-reflex, F-wave, and flexion withdrawal reflex, in the objective evaluation of response to intrathecal baclofen administration. Most studies describe the effects of baclofen administration on different aspects of spinal excitability. The techniques described serve as a valuable ...
Authors review literature related to the return to work for persons with traumatic brain injuries. Issues discussed include return to work outcomes, factors influencing return to work, race and ethnicity, and vocational programs that enhance employment, including the supported employment model. Provides guidelines for employment specialists who use the ...
Article presenting 3 case reports of women who developed superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (SSST) after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. The case reports describe presentation, time courses, and treatment. Clinical implications are discussed.
Article addresses the issue of spasticity management in the intensive care unit and acute care setting. Treatment delivered in those settings can be problematic as medical instability and impaired level of consciousness complicate the decision-making process. The authors review the literature and offer guidance to clinicians through a case ...
Study examining the ability of 1st-year physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residents to accurately predict functional outcome in acute rehabilitation setting. Residents at a rehabilitation hospital made predictions of discharge FIM (Functional Independence Measure) scores after assessing patients (n = 242) at admission. Findings indicate that the residents' predictive ...
Summarizes pharmacological responses to agitation among people who are in an intensive care setting. Discusses antipsychotic, neuroleptic, opioid, benzodiazepine, paralyzing, sedative, and antidepressant agents, as well as propofol.
Describes the case of a 38-year-old male with traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from a fall (initial Glasgow Coma Scale rating 12). A central venous catheter was placed to help manage associated chest and abdominal injuries. The agitated patient twisted off several hubs from the central venous catheter with ...
Dr. Yarar-Fisher trained as a physical therapist as an undergraduate and studied kinesiology for her doctoral studies. Her dissertation looked at the effects of whole body vibration on central and peripheral hemodynamic responses in persons with SCI. ...
Reviews studies examining the usefulness of acute and subacute parameters for predicting specific functional outcomes for patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) who are slow to respond. Discusses the parameters most pertinent to specific outcomes in TBI patients with coma.
Study examining the demographics and functional outcomes of persons who require inpatient rehabilitation for severe penetrating head injury resulting from a gunshot wound to the head. Data were collected prospectively for 27 individuals with severe penetrating head injuries at a trauma center and a rehabilitation hospital traumatic brain injury ...
Primary objective: To examine the relationship between CT abnormalities and early neuropsychological outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI) using quantitative CT analyses, data reduction methods for neuropsychological results and specific hypotheses based on literature review. Research design: Observational, prospective cohort study using acute (emergency) CT data and neuropsychological test ...
Traumatic injury is a relatively common occurrence, with approximately 40 million injury-related visits to emergency departments in the United States per year. Psychiatric complications of physical injury are a public health concern. Approximately 12% to 16% of survivors of traumatic injury are diagnosed with acute stress disorder (ASD), and ...
Objective: Compare white and African American caregivers of people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding caregiving patterns, emotional function and life satisfaction, and preferred supports. Design: Prospective, observational study; 1, 2, or 5 years post-TBI. Setting: Six TBI model systems. Participants: Two hundred fifty-six caregivers (195 ...
This paper deals with the issue of fitness to drive in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Guidelines for assessment are proposed and three types of studies are reviewed: studies about impairments of attention and information processing, studies of driving competence, and driver selection studies, applying and evaluating ...
Objective: To examine the relations among driving status, perceptions of barriers to the resumption of driving, and community integration outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: Correlational research using logistic and multiple regression analyses, analyses of variance, and covariance. Participants: Fifty-one survivors of TBI, 6 months to 10 years ...