TBI-consequences – Updates on essential guideline recommendations in neurorehabilitation

Dr. Mitrovic opened her presentation by stating that TBI is a significant global health problem, resulting in heterogeneous clinical consequences, including physical deficits, cognitive impairments, emotional disturbances and behavioral disorders, which significantly impact rehabilitation outcomes.

She noted that optimal TBI care requires a multidisciplinary, structured and flexible approach, addressing medical complications, motor recovery, cognitive reeducation, speech therapy and psychological support. Early and intensive rehabilitation, beginning within 35 days post-injury, improves functional and cognitive outcomes, reduces hospital stays and accelerates patient independence. She underscored that therapy intensity, patient goal setting and family involvement are critical for recovery and social reintegration.

Dr. Mitrovic also described that pharmacological support with Cerebrolysin has been shown to prevent secondary injury cascades and enhances neurorecovery, cognitive performance and functional outcomes in moderate to severe TBI. She stressed that effective rehabilitation relies on evidence-based guidelines, individualized interventions, interprofessional collaboration and multimodal approaches to optimize long-term function, quality of life and societal participation.