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The National Database

Since 1987, model system researchers have been working hard to learn more about the effects of brain injury. They collect information from emergency room records, acute care physicians and rehabilitation physicians. They also collect information from persons with brain injury. Information relating to the following categories is collected for the national database and analyzed:

• Injury severity — CT scan results, Glasgow Coma Scale scores, types of surgery.
• Cause of injury.
• Duration of hospitalization and rehabilitation.
• Rehabilitation progress — ability to carry out activities of daily living independently.
• Work status before and after injury.

Information from the database has helped model systems researchers learn how recovery is affected by factors such as age, cause of injury, injury severity and duration of hospitalization. As more information is entered into the database, researchers have greater opportunities to learn about effective treatment approaches.