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To elucidate the clinical course of the vegetative state after severe closed-head injury,the Traumatic Coma Data Bank was analyzed for outcome at the time of discharge from the hospital and after follow-up intervals ranging up to 3 years after injury.Of 650 patients with closed-head injury available for analysis,93(14%)were discharged in a vegetative state.In comparison with conscious survivors,patients in a vegetative state sustained more severe closed-head injury as reflected by the Glasgow Coma Scale scores and pupillary findings and more frequently had diffuse injury complicated by swelling or shift in midline structures.Of 84 patients in a vegetative state who provided follow-up date,41%became conscious by 6 months,52%regained consciousness by 1 year,and 58%recovered consciousness within the 3-year follow-up interval.A logistic regression failed to identify predictors of recovery from the vegetative state. |
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