Course of recovery and prediction of outcome in young patients in a prolonged vegetative or minimally conscious state after severe brain injury: An exploratory study.

Aims: To explore the course of recovery of consciousness and factors predicting the outcome of severe brain injury with a prolonged period of unconsciousness in children and young adults receiving a specialized rehabilitation treatment, the Early Intensive Neurorehabilitation Programme (EINP).

Methods: A cohort of forty-four patients aged 1.6-25.

Is cognitive functioning associated with subjective quality of life in young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus?

Objective: To test the hypothesis that cognitive functioning is associated with subjective quality of life of young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus (SBHC).

Design: Cross-sectional multi-centre study in The Netherlands.

Subjects: A total of 110 young adults with SBHC (16-25 years old, 63% female).

Restrictions in social participation of young adults with spina bifida.

Purpose: To determine participation restrictions of young adults with spina bifida (SB) in relation to health condition and activity limitations.

Method: A total of 179 persons aged 16-25 years and born with SB participated in a cross-sectional study. The main outcome on four domains of participation (independent living, employment, education and partner relationships) was assessed using a structured questionnaire.

The reliability and validity of the PALOC-s: a post-acute level of consciousness scale for assessment of young patients with prolonged disturbed consciousness after brain injury.

The objective of the study was the validation of the Post-Acute Level of Consciousness scale (PALOC-s) for use in assessing levels of consciousness of severe brain injured patients in a vegetative state or in a minimally conscious state. A cohort of 44 successively admitted patients (between 2 and 25 years of age), who were treated in an early intensive neurorehabilitation programme, were included in the study. Each patient was examined, using the Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP) and the Disability Rating Scale (DRS), once every two weeks resulting in 327 examinations (all videotaped).

Impact of internal capsule lesions on outcome of motor hand function at one year post-stroke.

Objective: To investigate the association between damage to different levels of the corticofugal tract and long-term hand motor recovery.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Patients: Seventy-five first-ever middle cerebral artery stroke survivors.