Traumatic Brain Injury: Post-Traumatic Amnesia Objectively Confirmed on Perfusion CT

Posted by rozeklawoffice on October 18, 2010 under Mild Brain Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury | Be the First to Comment

Perfusion CTPost-traumatic amnesia is the period of time following head injury where the individual is unable to consistently and continuously remember things. Confusion and disorientation may or may not accompany the period of post-traumatic amnesia. For example, there have been many stories of NFL players sustaining concussions in the beginnings of games, but continuing to play. The next day, they may have no memory of playing in the game, however, they were not exhibiting any signs of confusion or disorientation during the game.

It is important to keep in mind that the period of post-traumatic amnesia does not end until the person is able to consistently and continuously remember events. Many times, mild traumatic brain injury victims complain of “swiss cheese memory,” wherein they are able to remember bits and pieces of the events following the head injury but there are many holes in their memory.

Knowledgeable brain injury professionals have long known that the length of post-traumatic amnesia following a head injury is one of the best predictors of the severity of the head injury. The duration of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is also one of the best predictors of long term outcome following head injury:

  • Very Mild TBI – PTA of < 5 minutes
  • Mild TBI – PTA of 5-60 minutes
  • Moderate TBI – PTA of 1-24 hours
  • Severe TBI – PTA of 1-7 days
  • Very Severe TBI – PTA 1-4 weeks
  • Extremely Severe TBI – PTA > 4 weeks

Researchers from the Netherlands have now successfully confirmed the period of post-traumatic amnesia with the use of perfusion CT, which monitors blood flow in the brain. The study showed decreased blow flow in the frontal lobe and caudate nucleus of the brain injury victims during the period of time they were experiencing post-traumatic amnesia. The study will be published in the Journal of Neurotrauma:

“Acute cerebral perfusion CT abnormalities associated with posttraumatic amnesia in mild head injury.” Zwany Metting, Lars Roediger, Bauke de Jong, Roy Stewart, Berry Kremer, Joukje Van der Naalt. Journal of Neurotrauma. doi:10.1089/neu.2010.1395.

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