Does intensive rehabilitation improve the functional outcome of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Result of a randomized controlled trial

We have carried out a randomized controlled trial, with the assessors blind, to compare two groups of severe and moderate TBI patients receiving different intensity of rehabilitation (2 Vs 4 hours per day). 68 patients with moderate and severe TBI. aged 12-65 years, were included. At 2 and 3 months post-injury, there were significantly more patients in the study group achieved a full Functional Independent Measurement (FIM) scores and good Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) [FIM full scores at 3 month 15/32 (47%) Vs 7/36 (19%), p=0.016; GOS 5 at 2 months 9/32 (28%) Vs 3/36 (8%), p=0.033, at 3 months 11/32 (34%) Vs 5/36 (14%), p=0.047], but the control group caught up in subsequent months. Intensive rehabilitation improves the early Functional outcome of patients with moderate and severe TBI patients.