The Role of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential Study in Patients With Moderate Closed Head Injury

Abstract

Background: The high prevalence of head injury among civilian populations and the provision of the adequate hospitals services have become matters of worldwide concern. Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) have been shown to be of highly resistant to systemic factors and toxic or metabolic derangements, making them particularly useful in differentiating reversible brain-stem dysfunction from that due to structural disruption.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the changes in   brainstem evoked response (BAER( in patient with moderate closed head injury and   assessing again these changes in BAER six months later as follow up indices.

Material and methods: This is a prospective study conducted in the unit of Neurophysiology /Hospital of Neurosurgery/Baghdad from November 2010 to February 2012, using Esoata machine. Ninety three patients with moderate closed head injury (49 female and 44 male), with an age range from (5 -51) years, with a mean age of (26±11.95) years, were chosen according to Glasgow coma scale (GCS) (9-12 score) undergo BAER and only 86 patients will be followed up by BAER and both were compared to control group of 55 healthy subject.

Results: Central wave latencies of wave III, IV and V of BAER of right and left sides at early measurements were found to be significantly prolonged in comparison to that of healthy subject, Moreover, 6 months later measurements of right and left sides were significantly prolonged as compared to healthy subject at an early measurement, which indicates significant improvement.  However 6 months later measurements have significant reduced toward normal when compared to that at early measurements and with control group.

Conclusion:  This study revealed that head injury had serious effect on the brain functions reflected by changes in brainstem auditory evoked response which needs long time to return to normal levels.