Patient selection: traumatic brain injury
Timing: clinical examination soon after admission
Some reasons for overestimation of neurologic damage:
(1) sedation
(2) patient intoxication, including opiates given for pain
(3) administration of muscle relaxants for intubation
(4) sleep deprivations
(5) language problems
(6) concussion
Features of a patient who may show a better than expected neurologic recovery:
(1) no surgical intracranial masses
(2) able to obey commands after a few days
(3) discharged from the ICU in <= 3 days
(4) higher Glasgow coma scale
(5) younger age
(6) mild changes on brain CT
(7) no or mild pupillary abnormalities
(8) low serum levels of biomarkers
