Rehabilitation of Residual Neurological Deficits Caused by Traumatic Brain Injury through Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol – A Retrospective Case Report

Pratap Shankar K M, Deep VC

Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to multiple deficits based on the site and extent of injury. The deficit ranges from neurological impairment to comatose states. The victim may have weakened motor and sensory functions, mental, social, emotional or behavioral inappropriations. Outcome varies from permanent disability to death. In severe TBI, long term rehabilitation is often required to improve the functions and leading independence, but with uncertain outcomes. Ayurvedic medicines and panchakarma procedures are used in rehabilitation of such deficits with success since long. We present here a 30 year old patient with severe post TBI associated with left optic nerve injury, CSF rhinorrhoea and obstructive hydrocephalus. He presented with complaints of difficulty in walking, weakness associated with atrophy of both hands, loss
of vision and ptosis of left eye and right ear hearing loss since 7 months. The patient was diagnosed as siro marma abhigata and treatment protocol of siro abhigata & vata roga was selected. He was treated with combination of Ayurvedic internal medications and Panchakarma procedures for 38 days. During discharge, internal medications were advised and he was followed up for 3 months. Functional independence measure (FIM) was used as the assessment tool to track changes of the functional status of the patient from the onset of treatment, through discharge and follow up. FIM was found to be 61 at the time of initiation of Ayurvedic treatment, 119 and 126 respectively at the time of discharge and during final follow up. At
the time of discharge he was able to walk without support, weakness of upper limb associated with atrophy got improved by 50% and after 3 months he got complete recovery. He however could not regain the vision in his left eye and total hearing ability of right ear. Ayurvedic treatment protocol here was successfully employed to rehabilitate the neurological deficits caused by severe brain injury. The quality of life of the patient post ayurvedic treatment was shown to be improved to a major extent.

Key words: Traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation, siromarma abighata, panchakarma procedures

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