Nghe An Rehabilitation Hospital: A trusted address for recovery after traumatic brain injury

(Baonghean) - Along with treating diseases such as polyarthritis, herniated disc, autism... recently, Nghe An Rehabilitation Hospital has received many patients to recover from traumatic brain injury very effectively.

High risk of sequelae

Patient Nguyen Thi Loi (65 years old) in Nghi Hop commune (Nghi Loc) suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a car accident. After undergoing 2 surgeries (at the Provincial General Hospital, Viet Duc Hospital), after 6 months of treatment at the hospitals, Ms. Loi was transferred to Nghe An Rehabilitation Hospital for recovery and post-surgery care.

Before coming to Nghe An Rehabilitation Hospital, Mrs. Loi did not feel anything when others called her; she had to be fed through a feeding tube. While being treated at Nghe An Rehabilitation Hospital, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Loi was directly examined by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chuong - Head of the Department of Neurology - Hospital 103, Neurologist of the Military Medical Institute, Executive Committee Member of the Vietnam Neurology Association, Chairman of the Hanoi Pain Relief Association, and given a specific recovery regimen. Therefore, Mrs. Loi's health has improved a lot, such as feeling when hearing others call her name, feeling pain in her hands and feet when her family members touch her... the family is very excited.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chuong examines a patient with traumatic brain injury. Photo: Lam Tung

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chuong said: Traumatic brain injury is a condition of brain damage caused by trauma, leading to disorders of perception, cognition, movement, sensory perception and language. Traumatic brain injury can be divided into two main groups based on pathophysiology: primary injury and secondary injury. Common types of primary injury: epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral contusion, diffuse axonal injury, deep gray matter injury.

Common secondary injuries include: brain herniation, cerebral edema, cerebral infarction or post-traumatic cerebral ischemia. In addition, clinical symptoms as well as impairments and reduced capacity caused by traumatic brain injury are very diverse. Therefore, the rehabilitation process for patients with traumatic brain injury requires comprehensiveness, ensuring correct principles and good coordination among members of the treatment team. A good rehabilitation program will help patients recover quickly, regain maximum functional activities and improve quality of life.

Post-injury nutrition

Nutrition plays a very important role for the victim immediately after the injury as well as for the rest of their life. However, when caring for patients, the types of nutrients, the size and the way of delivery into the body need to be consulted and prescribed by doctors and medical experts. Some nutrients that need to be supplemented during the treatment and recovery process after traumatic brain injury are:

Omega 3: Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for brain cells and are found in fish, fish oil, flaxseed oil, algae, walnuts, etc. Supplementing omega-3 will help protect nerves from damage and help them recover more after injury.

Amino acids: The general rule for a traumatic brain injury diet and for recovery from a traumatic brain injury is to eat plenty of foods high in protein. Protein is used for growth, repair, and maintenance of virtually all tissues in the body and is made up of amino acids. Amino acids in the brain are closely involved in maintaining normal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Abundant sources of amino acids thanks to proteins found in lean chicken, fish, green beans, long beans, peas... You can choose rice porridge, tofu, chicken eggs, chicken, pork, shredded meat, fish, milk, apples, citrus juice, tomatoes... need to be processed into small, soft, long dishes, easy to chew and swallow, light and suitable for the patient's taste. For people in a prolonged coma, you can feed cow's milk, sugar, porridge, soy milk, fruit juice, vegetable juice... through a nasal tube.

In addition, patients need to eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals, some nutrients that are extremely important for brain function such as choline, which is very important for the formation of neurotransmitters. Choline is found in eggs, peanuts, etc. At the same time, eliminate foods containing saturated fat, hydrogenated fats, foods containing a lot of sodium because these foods increase the risk of stroke.

How to recover from injury

When brain damage occurs, daily activities are also greatly affected. To recover from a traumatic brain injury, patients and their families need to follow the instructions of doctors. For patients with severe trauma, the recovery process is slow, and care must be taken to avoid problems such as joint mobility, skin ulcers, infections, and other physiological functions.

Once the patient has recovered from the acute condition, a rehabilitation program can be guided through its stages. In the final stage, rehabilitation will help the patient achieve maximum independence when returning home, possibly returning to their old job or accessing a new career that is appropriate to their current functional status.

For patients with traumatic brain injury, post-injury rehabilitation is a time to help them regain their health and spirit. Therefore, if the care goes well, the patient and family follow the doctor's instructions and directions, their recovery will be faster and the patient has a higher chance of re-entering the community.

Scientific and Technical Council - Nghe An Rehabilitation HospitalWith the spirit: "All for patient satisfaction"; is: "Where patients place their trust"

Model: The first Green - Clean - Beautiful "Hospital - Hotel" in Nghe An

Address: No. 220, Binh Minh Street, Cua Lo Town, Nghe An;

Clinic Phone: 0238.949.709; 24/7 hotline: 0238.952.020; Hotline: 0966.251.414; Hotline: 0912.002.210; Director's phone: 0912.487.568.

Thanh Thuy