Case 7: Discussion
- 1. Discussion The patient is independent, able to get around and take care of himself, so not in the SEVERE DISABILITY category. The patient is not able to work, but this is not due to his traumatic brain injury. He feels he could work if it were not for the consequences of the leg injury and the aneurysm. Therefore he should be scored as a GOOD RECOVERY. A. Upper Good: Return to normal life and NO current problems relating to the injury that affect daily life (dizziness, headache, and sensitivity to noise or light, slowness, memory failure, concentration problems) B. Lower Good: Return to normal life BUT current problems relating to the injury that affect daily life (dizziness, headache, and sensitivity to noise or light, slowness, memory failure, concentration problems) Social activities: Resumed at least half as often as pre-injury Disruption or Strain: Occasional (less than once per week) There are a number of symptoms that bother him, and they could be related to the traumatic brain injury. This would make him a Lower Good on the GOS-E.
- 2. Additional comment This case illustrates the importance of separating out disability based on Traumatic Brain Injury from disability based on other trauma (e.g. multiple leg injuries) or another condition not related to the trauma at all (the aneurysm). Only if the inability to work, or to resume pre-injury activities is due to TBI should this lead to a lower GOS rating.