(1) Background: Sleeping disorders are frequently reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Different forms of sleeping disorders have been reported, such as sleepiness, insomnia, changes in sleeping latency, and others. (2) Methods: A case-control study with 62 patients who were victims of mild or moderate TBI with previous admissions to Iraqi tertiary neurosurgical centers were enrolled as the first group, and 158 patients with no history of trauma were considered as the control. All were 18 years of age or older, and the severity of the trauma and sleep disorders was assessed. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index was used to assess sleep disorders with average need for sleep per day and average sleep latency were assessed in both groups. Chi-square and t-test calculations were used to compare different variables. (3) Results: 39 patients (24.7%) of the controlled group experienced sleeping disorders compared to TBI group with 45 patients (72.6%), P-value < 0.00001. A total of 42 patients were diagnosed on admission as having a mild degree of TBI (mean GCS 13.22 ± 1.76) and 20 patients were diagnosed with moderate TBI (mean GCS11.05 ± 1.14. 27). A total of 27 (46.28%) patients with mild severity TBI and 18 patients (90%) of moderate severity were considered to experience sleeping disorders, P-value 0.0339. Each of the mild and moderate TBI subgroups show a P-value < 0.00001 compared to the control group. Average sleep hours needed per day for TBI and the control were 8.02 ± 1.04 h and 7.26 ± 0.58 h, respectively, P-value < 0.00001. Average sleep latency for the TBI and the control groups were 13.32 ± 3.16 min and 13.93 ± 3.07 min respectively, P-value 0.065. (4) Conclusion: Sleep disturbances are more common following mild and moderate TBI three months after the injury with more hours needed for sleep per day and no significant difference in sleep latency. Sleep disturbances increase in frequency with the increase in the severity of TBI.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is still considered a worldwide leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Within the last decades, different modalities were used to assess severity and outcome including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), imaging modalities, and even genetic polymorphism, however, determining the prognosis of TBI victims is still challenging requiring the emerging of more accurate and more applicable tools to surrogate other old modalities
Nonmissile penetrating traumatic brain injuries (pTBIs) are low-velocity injuries which can be caused by a variety of inflicting tools and represent a rare entity in children. Poor outcome has been attributed with an initial admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of <5, asymmetrical pupil size, and specific initial computed tomography scan findings including brainstem injury.
We report a case of an 11-year-old boy who presented to our ER with a GCS of 6 after being assaulted on his head by a 30 cm length metallic tent hook penetrating his forehead reaching down to the central skull bas
Purpose: We report a series of 29 pediatric patients who sustained head injuries due to metallic ceiling fans. They all were admitted to the Emergency Department of Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, during January 2015 to January 2017. Results: Pediatric ceiling fan head injuries are characterized by four traits which distinguish them from other types of head injuries; 1- Most of them were because of climbing on or jumping from furniture between the ages of two and five. 2- Most of them sustained compound depressed skull fracture which associated with intracranial lesions and pneumocephalus. 3- The most common indication for surgical intervention was because of dirty wound which mixed with hairs. 4- These variables were stati
... Show MoreBackground: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem. Even injuries classified as mild which is the most common, can result in persistent neurobehavioural impairment. Diffuse axonal injury is a common finding after TBI, and is presumed to contribute to outcomes, but may not always be apparent using standard neuroimaging. All severities of TBI can result in a degree of axonal damage, while irreversible myelin damage was only apparent for moderate to severe TBI.
Objectives: To evaluate the effects of moderate closed head injury on visual evoked response (VER) and to assess the changes in VER 6 months later as follow up indices.
Subjects and methods: T
... Show MoreBackground: a number of studies have shown that application of topical calcineurin inhibitors is effective for a broad spectrum of inflammatory skin disorders.
Objective: to compare the efficacy and safety of 1% of pimecrolimus cream versus 0.05% of clobetasol cream and 0.005% of calcipotriol cream in psoriatic patients.
Patients and methods: adults on stable plaque psoriasis were randomized to three treatment groups (pimecrolimus, clobetasol, and calcipotriol group). The criteria of inclusion involve affected BSA of ≤10%, with a local psoriasis severity index (LPSI) score of ≥5. The main assessment of clinical efficacy was the percent changes in LPSI. The quantitative determination of cytokine levels (IL -6, s IL-2R, TNF-α),
Background: The high prevalence of head injury among civilian populations and the provision of the adequate hospitals services have become matters of worldwide concern. Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) have been shown to be of highly resistant to systemic factors and toxic or metabolic derangements, making them particularly useful in differentiating reversible brain-stem dysfunction from that due to structural disruption.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the changes in brainstem evoked response (BAER( in patient with moderate closed head injury and assessing again these changes in BAER six months later as follow up indices.
Background:
OBJECTIVE: Synthetic vertebral body replacement has been widely used recently to treat different spinal conditions affecting the anterior column. They arrange from trauma, infections, and even tumor conditions. In this study, we assess the functional outcome of this modality in different spinal conditions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six cases operated from October 2010 to December 2017. Twelve patients had spinal type A3 fractures, 11 cases with spinal tuberculosis (TB), and 13 cases with spinal tumors. They were followed clinically for a mean period of 2.4 years. RESULTS: All the cases were approached anteriorly. Seven cases had a post-operative infection. No neurological worsening reported. We had dramatic neurologic
... Show MoreHere we present the results of experiments involving cynomolgus macaques, in which a model of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) was created by using a balloon catheter inserted into the epidural space. Prior to the creation of the lesion, we inserted an EMG recording device to facilitate measurement of tail movement and muscle activity before and after TSCI. This model is unique in that the impairment is limited to the tail: the subjects do not experience limb weakness, bladder impairment, or bowel dysfunction. In addition, 4 of the 6 subjects received a combination treatment comprising thyrotropin releasing hormone, selenium, and vitamin E after induction of experimental TSCI. The subjects tolerated the implantation of the recording devi
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