Functional Connectivity Measurement After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Functional Connectivity Measurement After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

To compare functional connectivity after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) between a group of post-comatose TBI with restored consciousness and a group of post-comatose TBI with persistant disorder of consciousness at admission in rehabilitation

Recovery of consciousness can be impaired in severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Prognostic factors are sparse and mostly clinical (mainly the initial Glasgow coma scale GCS) (1). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) could allow a better understanding of functional recovery. Graph method has been applied to fMRI signal analysis in disorder of consciousness (DOC) due to post-anoxic encephalopathy. Comatose state was characterized by dramatic change in local connectivity (hub location) without significant change in global connectivity (2). The present study aims at describing functional connectivity in DOC following severe TBI. We will record resting state fMRI in TBI patients in two clinical conditions: conscious state versus DOC state.

Inclusion Criteria:

• severe TBI
• no general anesthesia since 7 days
• no neuroleptic nor hypnotic drug since 3 days
• medical criteria fulfilled to be discharged from ICU
• medical insurance

Exclusion Criteria:

• age < 18
• contra indication to MRI
• consent refusal from the family
• neurological trouble before TBI
• patient protected by law