Sains Malaysiana 42(3)(2013): 403–408

Neuropsychological Profile at Three Months Post Injury in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

(Profil Neuropsikologi Tiga Bulan Selepas Kecederaan pada Pesakit dengan Kecederaan Trauma Otak)

Ramli Ali

Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Selayang, Lebuhraya Selayang-Kepong

68100 Batu Caves, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Suzaily Wahab* & Abdul Hamid Abdul Rahman

Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC)

Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 12 May 2012/Accepted: 4 July 2012

ABSTRACT

This study looked into the rate and pattern of neuropsychological impairment in patients with traumatic brain injury patients at three months post injury. Forty patients attending the neurosurgery outpatient clinic were included in the study. Benton visual retention test (BVRT), rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), digit span test, trail making test (TMT) and mini mental state examination (MMSE) were used for assessment. Forty five percent (n=18) sustained moderate to severe head injury. Twenty five percent (n=10) have abnormal MMSE result. Forty two and a half percent (n=17) have abnormal BVRT result. Seventy five percent (n=30) have abnormal RAVLT result while 35% (n=14) have abnormal digit span test result. Seventy seven and a half percent (n=31) have at least one neurological deficit. There was significant association between severity of head injury (GCS score) and neuropsychological deficit. This study highlights the point that in post head injury patients, there are high occurrences of cognitive dysfunction. MMSE and GCS play a significant and important role in assessing cognitive dysfunction. Severity of head injury as determined by GCS scores also influence the outcome in patients with head injury.

Keywords: Cognitive dysfunction; head injury; neuropsychological impairment

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini melihat kadar dan bentuk kelainan neuropsikologi dalam kalangan mereka yang mengalami kecederaan kepala tiga bulan selepas kemalangan. Empat puluh pesakit yang datang ke klinik pesakit luar neurosurgeri diambil untuk kajian ini. Ujian pengekalan penglihatan Benton (BVRT), ujian pembelajaran pendengaran verbal rey (RAVLT), ujian digit span, ujian membuat jejak (TMT) dan pemeriksaan keadaan mental mini (MMSE) digunakan untuk pengukuran. Empat puluh lima peratus (n=18) mengalami kecederaan kepala yang sederhana kepada teruk. Dua puluh lima peratus (n=10) menunjukkan keputusan MMSE yang tidak normal. Empat puluh dua setengah peratus (n=17) menunjukkan keputusan BVRT tidak normal. Tujuh puluh lima peratus (n=30) menunjukkan keputusan RAVLT tidak normal, sementara 35% (n=14) menunjukkan ujian digit span tidak normal. Tujuh puluh tujuh setengah peratus (n=31) mengalami sekurang-kurangnya satu kelainan neuropsikologi. Terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara keterukan kecederaan kepala (skor GCS) dengan kelainan neuropsikologi. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa selepas berlakunya kecederaan kepala terdapat disfungsi kognitif pada kadar yang tinggi. MMSE dan GCS memainkan peranan yang signifikan dan penting dalam mengukur disfungsi kognitif. Keterukan kecederaan kepala yang diukur oleh skor GCS juga mempengaruhi kesan akhir pada pesakit yang mengalami kecederaan kepala.

Kata kunci: Kecederaan kepala; kecelaan kognitif; kelainan neuropsikiologi

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*Corresponding author: suzailywhb@yahoo.com