Possibilities and limitations of rehabilitation after traumatic apallic syndrome in children and adolescents

Neuropediatrics
H Lange-CosackH J Schlesener

Abstract

Report on long-term follow-up studies in 23 children and 2 adolescents who survived severe brain injury and a resulting apallic syndrome. Neurological examinations and psychiatric observations were performed in all patients, and psychological tests were administered whenever possible. EEGs were recorded in all cases, and 11 patients had CT scans. 6 patients died after surviving the acute phase. 2 survived in state of stabilized unconsiousness. Recovery from the apallic syndrome was observed in 17 patients, but complete recovery did not occur in a single case. 7 patients (group A) retained severe handicaps, and the other 10 (group B) demonstrated les serious residual deficits. With a few exceptions, neurological deficit correlated with permanent psychological damage. The patients of group A presented a fairly uniform set of neurological deficits characterized by severe quadiparesis, dysarthria and other signs of permanent cerebellar dysfunction. psychological disorders included permanent aphasia (3 patients) and a major reduction on intelligence (4 patients). These patients retained a capacity for emotional response but were never able to attend school, and they remained dependent on their families or on institutions. The patien...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 2, 1994·The New England Journal of Medicine·UNKNOWN Multi-Society Task Force on PVS
Jan 1, 1996·Disability and Rehabilitation·P Grossman, K Hagel

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