Rehabilitation of patients with traumatic brain injury

New concepts in the rehabilitation of patients with severe traumatic brain injury are presented which have been developed in Germany recently in the form of a special early rehabilitation program. Patient criteria for intake into the program are defined and criteria for transfer to later rehabilitation phases are given as well as goals and therapeutic approaches. In the second part of the paper results from a three year study are presented. Approximately 25% of admitted patients were independent after discharge, 31% had to rely on moderate external help, 20% remained in a state of total dependence on external help including patients in vegetative state. 33% of patients were admitted with a longer delay after the accident. The necessity to establish special programs and to transfer patients from the acute hospital to early rehabilitation wards as soon as possible is stressed.