Abstract Details

Title Comparison of the Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) over Time Produced by Blast Injury (BI) and Direct Head Trauma (DHT) in Veterans of OEF/OIF Campaigns

Topic Neural Repair/Rehabilitation

Presentation(s) P04 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 026

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: The signature injury of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF) is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) due to BI, but TBI from DHT also occur. Whether BI produces a PCS unique from that of DHT is not known.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: Of 5,713 OEF/OIF Veterans screened at the OKC VAMC, 1,382 had deployment-related TBI and were referred to a TBI clinic. This report deals with the first 500 seen. For this group, TBI occurred between 1 and 8 years previously. A standard TBI screen was administered which dealt with events around the TBI and subsequent symptoms chosen to represent the PCS include 1) headache, 2) dizziness, 3) balance difficulty, 4) poor coordination, 5) difficulty with decision and 6) depression. Scoring of symptoms 1-5 was reported as none, mild/moderate (M/M) and severe (S). Depression was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) as none (1-9), minimal (10-15), and mild to severe (16+). For longitudinal comparison periods of 1-4 and 5-8 years post TBI were employed.

Results RESULTS: Of the 500 subjects there were 383 BI (247 at 1-4 yrs, 136 at 5-8 yrs) and 114 DHT (63 at 1-4 yrs and 51 at 5-8 yrs)(3 missing data). Comparison of occurrence of neurologic symptoms (#1-5) and of depression scores between BI and DHT subjects for the entire group and for subgroups at 1-4 and 5-8 yrs post injury revealed no significant differences.

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: The PCS produced by BI and DHT are essentially the same for up to 8 years post injury.

Authors/Disclosures
James R. Couch, Jr., MD, PhD, FAAN (Univ of Oklahoma Health Sciences Ctr) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Peggy J. Wisdom, MD, FAAN (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center)	No disclosure on file
Kimford J. Meador, MD, FAAN (Stanford University School of Medicine)	The institution of Dr. Meador has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Meador has received research support from The Epilepsy Consortium.

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