A model of longitudinal hemodynamic alterations after mild traumatic brain injury in adolescents

Abstract

There is an unquestionable need for quantitative biomarkers of mild traumatic brain injuries. Something that is particularly true for adolescents – where the recovery from these injuries is still poorly understood. However, within this population, it is clear that the vasculature is distinctly affected by a mild traumatic brain injury. In addition, our group recently demonstrated how that effect appears to show a progression of alterations similar but in contrast to that found in severe traumatic injuries. Through measuring an adolescent population with transcranial Doppler ultrasound during a hypercapnia challenge, multiple phases of hemodynamic dysfunction were suggested. Here, we create a generalized model of the hemodynamic responses by fitting a set of inverse models to the dominant features from that work. The resulting model helps define the multiple phases of hemodynamic recovery after a mild traumatic brain injury. This can eventually be generalized, potentially providing a diagnostic tool for clinicians tracking patient’s recovery, and ultimately, resulting in more informed decisions and better outcomes.