Promoting functional seated positioning and communication utilising a custom cervical and trunk orthosis in severe traumatic brain injury: a case report.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Published evidence to guide therapists regarding positioning strategies for patients with TBI is limited. This case report describes the development of a custom cervical-thoracic-lumbar orthosis to improve functional seated positioning and communication for an individual with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

CASE DESCRIPTION: A man in his 20 s admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital nine weeks after sustaining a TBI. Upon admission, he presented in a vegetative state with severe positioning and postural impairments.

INTERVENTION: Despite evidence of cognitive progression at 7 weeks post-admission, the patient demonstrated persistent postural deficits and limitations in functional activities and communication. To provide additional postural support, a custom cervico-thoracic-lumbar orthosis was fabricated to promote improved function and communication.

OUTCOMES: From the time of admission to post-admission weeks 7-8, the patient progressed on multiple measures: Rancho Los Amigos scale: level II to level VII; Coma Recovery Scale Revised 6 points to 15 points; Disability Rating Scale decreased from 25 points to 12 points. Functional Independence Measure 20 points at 6 weeks post-admission to 23 points at 8 weeks post-admission.

DISCUSSION: Custom cervico-thoracic-orthoses may provide additional postural support to promote improved function in individuals post-TBI. Further studies are needed to provide evidence of custom orthoses' effect on function and communication in this population.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTo provide evidence of the influence of a custom orthosis on achieving a stable seated postureTo provide evidence of the influence of a custom orthosis on the functional use of an alternative communication device in the traumatic brain injury population.