Relationship of somatosensory evoked potential grading with prognosis in long-term unconscious patients after severe traumatic brain injury

Objective To study prognosis and grading of somatosensory evoked potential(SEP)in long-term unconscious patients after severe traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods Five prognostic factors including age,sex,injury mechanism,history of temporal craniotomy and SEP grading were selected and analyzed in 47 patients after severe TBI with a duration of unconsciousness longer than two weeks.The prognosis was judged by Glasgow Outcome Scale.Results Prognosis was closely associated with SEP grading(P=0.024).The accuracy of SEP in assessing the prognosis was 91.5%.About 95%-100% of patients with SEP at grade Ⅲ-Ⅲ ended up with severe disability,persistent vegetative state or death.However,43.75% of patients with SEP at grade Ⅰ had good prognoses.Conclusions The SEP grading can objectively and accurately evaluate patients' prognosis and demonstrate the brain function. Key words: Brain injuries; Consciousness disorders; Evoked potentials,somatosensory; Prognosis