The resolution of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) clinically corresponds to the period when the incorporation of ongoing daily events occurs, and a patient can remember the events of the injury.
| Duration of PTA | Severity |
|---|---|
| 5-60 min | Mild |
| 1-24 hour | Moderate |
| 1-7 days | Severe |
| 1-4 weeks | Very Severe |
| Duration of PTA | Outcome |
|---|---|
| <1 week | full recovery possible |
| 1-2 weeks | functional recoery over months with some residual deficits |
| 2-4 weeks | prolonged recovery over 1 year or longer |
| >4 weeks | permanent deficits and significant disability likely |
used to assess alertness and orientation, recall of injury and hospitalization, last pre- and first post-injury memories
Patient scores ≥75 x2 consecutive days = End of PTA
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References
Elovic E, Baerga E, Galang GF, Cuccurullo SJ, Reyna M, Malone RJ. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Board Review. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Demos Medical; 2015. Chapter 2, Traumatic Brain Injury. P.96-146.
Ellenberg JH, Levin HS, Saydjari C. Posttraumatic amnesia as a predictor of outcome after severe closed head injury. Prospective assessment. Arch Neurol. 1996;53:782–791.
Brooks DN, McKinlay WW. Evidence and Quantification in Head Injury: Seminar Notes. Unpublished material, 1989.