Kampfl A, Schmutzhard E, Franz G, Pfausler B, Haring HP, Ulmer H, Felber S, Golaszewski S, Aichner F.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Innsbruck, Austria.
BACKGROUND: The early post-traumatic vegetative state (VS) is compatible with recovery. Various clinical and laboratory tests have failed to predict recovery so we assessed the value of cerebral magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) in prediction of recovery. METHODS: 80 adult patients in post-traumatic VS had cerebral MRI between 6 weeks and 8 weeks after injury. MRIs were reviewed by three neuroradiologists for the number, sizes, and location of brain lesions. Three neurologists assessed the patients at the time of MRI and at 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after injury using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. FINDINGS: At 12 months, 38 patients had recovered while 42 patients remained in the VS. The demographic characteristics and causes and severity of injury were similar in patients in persistent VS (PVS) and those who recovered (NPVS). An average of 6.1 different brain areas were injured in patients in PVS compared with 4.6 areas in patients who had NPVS. Patients in PVS revealed a significantly higher frequency of corpus callosum, corona radiata, and dorsolateral brainstem injuries than did patients who recovered. Logistic regression analysis showed that corpus callosum and dorsolateral brainstem injuries were predictive of non-recovery. The adjusted odds ratios for non-recovery of patients with a corpus callosum lesion and dorsolateral brainstem injury were 213.8 (95% CI 14.2-3213.3), and 6.9 (11-42.9), respectively. In contrast, clinical characteristics, such as initial score on the Glasgow Coma Scale, age, and pupillary abnormalities failed to predict recovery. INTERPRETATION: Cerebral MRI findings in the subacute stage after head injury can predict the outcome of the post-traumatic VS. Corpus callosum and dorsolateral brainstem lesions are highly significant in predicting non-recovery.
Another insult to the brain that can cause injury is anoxia. Anoxia is a condition in which there is an absence of oxygen supply to an organ's tissues, even if there is adequate blood flow to the tissue. Quick Facts about: Hypoxia
A very strong drive resulting from a deficiency of available oxygen in the blood and bodily tissues (short of anoxia)Hypoxia refers to a decrease in oxygen supply rather than a complete absence of oxygen. Without oxygen, the cells of the brain die within several minutes. This type of injury is often seen in neardrowning victims, in heart attack patients, or in people who suffer significant blood loss from other injuries that decrease blood flow to the brain.
Many patients emerge from a vegetative state within a few weeks, but those who do not recover within 30 days are said to be in a Quick Facts about: persistent vegetative state
Quick Summary not found for this subjectpersistent vegetative state (PVS) . The chances of recovery depend on the extent of injury to the brain and the patient's age, with younger patients having a better chance of recovery than older patients. Generally adults have a 50 percent chance and children a 60 percent chance of recovering consciousness from a PVS within the first 6 months. After a year, the chances that a PVS patient will regain consciousness are very low
and most patients who do recover consciousness experience significant disability. The longer a patient is in a PVS, the more severe the resulting disabilities will be. Rehabilitation can contribute to recovery, but many patients never progress to the point of being able to take care of themselves.
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/T/Tr/Traumatic_brain_injury.htm
Chances of recovery after a year if at all don't sound very good?