Jun. 4., 2007 | 09:33 pm
No:: larva
There is a definite connection between brain injury and alcohol.
Keidel (1997) notes that alcohol is associated with a poor prognostic
factor:
"Head trauma (HT) and whiplash injury (WI) is followed by a
posttraumatic headache (PH) in approx. 90% of patients. The PH due to
common WI is located occipitally (67%), is of dull-pressing or
dragging character (77%) and lasts on average 3 weeks. Tension
headache is the most frequent type of PH (85%). Besides posttraumatic
cervicogenic headache or symptomatic, secondary headache due to SDH,
SAB, ICB or increased ICP, migraine- or cluster-like headache can be
observed in rare cases. Prolonged application of analgetics (> 4
weeks) can cause a drug induced headache. In 80% of patients PH
following HT shows remission within 6 months. Chronic PH lasting at
least 4 years occurs in 20%. Unfavorouble prognostic factors include
an age higher than 40 yrs, a low intellectual, educational and
socio-economic level, previous HT or a history of alcohol abuse. A
prolonged PH due to WI can be expected in patients with initially
severe headache, with an extensive decrease of mobility of the
cervical spine, with subjective impediment, with depressive mood, with
somatic-vegetative complaints, with a history of pretraumatic headache
and with increased age. Acute PH is treated with analgesics,
antiphlogistics and/or muscle relaxants; chronic PH with thymoleptics
(e.g. Amitryptiline or Amitryptiline oxide). Additional physical
therapy (e.g. wearing a cervical collar for a short time,
hydrocollator pack), physiotherapy incl. muscle relaxation techniques
(Jacobson) and psychotherapy can be performed. Medico-legal issues
should be solved as soon as possible." (1)
Evans (1992) also notes that alcohol is a risk factor for persistent
postconcussion syndrome symptoms:
"Manifestations of the postconcussion syndrome are common, with
resolution in most patients by 3 to 6 months after the injury.
Persistent symptoms and cognitive deficits are present in a distinct
minority of patients for additional months or years. Risk factors for
persisting sequelae include age over 40 years; lower educational,
intellectual, and socioeconomic level; female gender; alcohol abuse;
prior head injury; and multiple trauma." (2)
Keidel (1997) notes that alcohol is associated with a poor prognostic
factor:
"Head trauma (HT) and whiplash injury (WI) is followed by a
posttraumatic headache (PH) in approx. 90% of patients. The PH due to
common WI is located occipitally (67%), is of dull-pressing or
dragging character (77%) and lasts on average 3 weeks. Tension
headache is the most frequent type of PH (85%). Besides posttraumatic
cervicogenic headache or symptomatic, secondary headache due to SDH,
SAB, ICB or increased ICP, migraine- or cluster-like headache can be
observed in rare cases. Prolonged application of analgetics (> 4
weeks) can cause a drug induced headache. In 80% of patients PH
following HT shows remission within 6 months. Chronic PH lasting at
least 4 years occurs in 20%. Unfavorouble prognostic factors include
an age higher than 40 yrs, a low intellectual, educational and
socio-economic level, previous HT or a history of alcohol abuse. A
prolonged PH due to WI can be expected in patients with initially
severe headache, with an extensive decrease of mobility of the
cervical spine, with subjective impediment, with depressive mood, with
somatic-vegetative complaints, with a history of pretraumatic headache
and with increased age. Acute PH is treated with analgesics,
antiphlogistics and/or muscle relaxants; chronic PH with thymoleptics
(e.g. Amitryptiline or Amitryptiline oxide). Additional physical
therapy (e.g. wearing a cervical collar for a short time,
hydrocollator pack), physiotherapy incl. muscle relaxation techniques
(Jacobson) and psychotherapy can be performed. Medico-legal issues
should be solved as soon as possible." (1)
Evans (1992) also notes that alcohol is a risk factor for persistent
postconcussion syndrome symptoms:
"Manifestations of the postconcussion syndrome are common, with
resolution in most patients by 3 to 6 months after the injury.
Persistent symptoms and cognitive deficits are present in a distinct
minority of patients for additional months or years. Risk factors for
persisting sequelae include age over 40 years; lower educational,
intellectual, and socioeconomic level; female gender; alcohol abuse;
prior head injury; and multiple trauma." (2)