Restoration of Brain Functions in Patients after Prolonged Post-Traumatic Coma

Objective. To study the recovery of brain functions in patients with prolonged post-traumatic coma and post-coma unconsciousness states. Materials and methods. A total of 87 patients with prolonged post-traumatic coma were observed over a period of two years. The clinical neurological picture after long-lasting coma was analyzed in terms of the dynamics of vital functions, neurological status, and patients' responses to presentation of external stimuli. Results and conclusions. On the basis of the dynamics of the clinical neurological picture reflecting recovery of the functions of individual parts of the brain, three stages in the recovery of brain functions after prolonged coma were identified: the stem areas, the diencephalon, and the telencephalon. Our suggested anatomical-functional grading of the recovery of brain functions after long-lasting coma was compared with existing classifications.

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