LibGuides: Moderate to Severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI): Home

About

The purpose of this guide is to bring together educational material to support orientation on moderate to severe acquired brain injury (ABI), along with best practice knowledge and resources in caring for individuals with moderate to severe ABI. This resource serves as an access point for practical, evidence-based information for health care professionals working with brain injury survivors, from novice to experienced clinicians. These resources were chosen by members of the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Provincial Network as their favourite and most practical.

This guide focuses on moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, but it includes some resources and links on stroke information, as the sequalae from stroke and traumatic brain injury can be similar. For more information specific to stroke care, please see the Nova Scotia Health Library Subject Guide on Stroke Care.

The Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Provincial Network is a collaborative initiative that provides educational resources to leaders and clinicians to support the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based service across the continuum of care throughout Nova Scotia for persons with ABI.

Introduction to Acquired Brain Injury

What is Brain Injury?

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is damage to the brain that:

occurs after birth
is not related to a congenital disorder or an illness
gets worse with time

Examples of ABI include traumatic brain injury, such as from:

a fall
motor vehicle accident
gunshot wound or assault
stroke
brain tumor
brain infection (meningitis or encephalitis)
anoxia (due to near drowning, heart attack, or overdose)

Common symptoms include physical, cognitive, emotional, perceptual, and behavioural changes. Each individual will experience a unique combination of challenges and changes due to their brain injury.

Evidence-based Review of Moderate to Severe Acquired Brain Injury (ERABI): Clinical Guidebook
Chapter 1. Introduction to Moderate to Severe Acquired Brain Injury
This chapter from the ERABI Guidebook covers defining and grading ABIs as well as common mechanisms of injury and the types of neuronal injury that occur with an ABI. It includes a review of neuroanatomy and function, and a brief summary on disorders of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia.

Resources

Canadian Clinical Practice Guideline: For Rehabilitation of Adults with Moderate to Severe TBI
Provides evidence-based recommendations for rehabilitation services for adults who have sustained a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
Evidence-based Review of Moderate to Severe Acquired Brain Injury (ERABI): Clinical Guidebook
Chapter 8. Acute Interventions for Acquired Brain Injury
A compilation of educational resources dedicated to improving outcomes and efficiencies in rehabilitation. It houses learning modules, a guidebook and clinical tools, and informs best practice guidelines. Each module is a review of the evidence related to that topic. The Clinical Guidebook is a learning resource based on the evidence review as well as clinically relevant best practices and guidelines. The Clinical Tool is an easy-to-read synthesis of the most current research, guidelines and clinical algorithms organized by topic. Links to relevant modules, clinical guidebook chapters and clinical tool sections are included in this subject guide under each heading.
The Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury (COMBI)
A compilation of outcome measures commonly used in brain injury. It includes syllabus and training information, rating forms, information on reliability and validity, as well as a reference list of published studies.
Canadian Stroke Best Practices: 11. Virtual Stroke Rehabilitation
Provides evidence-based recommendations for stroke care to achieve optimal patient outcomes and quality of life. Since stroke is a type of brain injury, many of the guidelines are relevant and applicable to moderate to severe ABI.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland eLearning (CHSS eLearning)
This elearning resource provides a multidisciplinary resource on a wide range of core knowledge and skills required by all staff providing care to stroke patients.