Evoked potentials in patients with post-traumatic brain injury syndrome

Objective To investigate the features of evoked potentials in patients with post-traumatic brain injury syndrome(PTBIS) and the value of evoked potentials in evaluating cerebral function for patients with PTBIS. Methods Thirty-eight patients with PTBIS were studied simultaneously with median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP), brainstem auditory evoked potential(BAEP)and event-related potential(ERP).The data of the EPs obtained by any modality in the patients were analyzed in comparison with that of healthy persons matched in sex and age. Results The abnormal ratios of SEP,BAEP and ERP for patients with PTBIS were 71.1%,38.9% and 50%, respectively.The major abnormalities of SEP were the delay of P15,N60 peak latency and decrease of N20 amplitude. The major abnormalities of BAEP were delay of Ⅲ,Ⅴ peak latency orⅠ～Ⅲ,Ⅰ～Ⅴ interpeak latency. The major abnormality of ERP was the delay of P3 peak latency. Conclusion Abnormalities of multimodal evoked potentials indicated that patients with PTBIS had the functional impairment of specific cerebral areas or brainstem and cognitive disturbances. Evoked potential test provides a sensitive and objective electrophysiological means in evaluating cerebral function for patients with post-traumatic brain injury syndrome.