Neural and Behavioral Sequelae of Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common occurrence from roadside blasts of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Like civilian TBI, blast-related TBI can result from mechanical forces in which objects in motion strike the head or the head is forcefully put into motion and strikes an object. TBI from exposure to an explosive blast may also result from a third cause: barotrauma. Blasts produce wave-induced changes in atmospheric pressure, which in turn produce characteristic injuries to vulnerable bodily regions at air-fluid interfaces, such as the middle ear. It is unknown whether the neural and cognitive sequelae of blast-related TBI differ from those resulting from mechanically-induced TBI commonly observed in civilian accidents. Understanding the potentially unique sequelae of blast-related TBI is critical for accurate diagnosis and designing effective pharmacological and neurorehabilitation interventions. In this cross-sectional study, we applied neurobehavioral testing and advanced MRI techniques [task-activated functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)] to gain a comprehensive understanding of the neural changes underlying blast-related MTBI. This was accomplished by comparing neurobehavioral and neuroimaging findings obtained from military personnel who had a blast injury with those obtained from civilians who sustained TBI from motor vehicle accidents and from military and civilian control participants with orthopedic injuries. We accomplished this goal by conducting advanced neuroimaging (task-activated fMRI and DTI fiber tracking) and neurobehavioral testing (computerized assessment and standard neuropsychological testing) on 60 chronic trauma patients: 15 military MTBI patients with blast injuries, 15 civilian MTBI patients with mechanical closed head injuries,15 military and 15 civilian patients with orthopedic injuries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA589738
Entities
People
- Harvey S. Levin
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine