Against the odds: a case study of recovery from coma after devastating prognosis

Abstract

To demonstrate the possibility for hidden rehabilitation potential even following most severe brain injury and the uncertainty of current prognosis factors for coma and unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, we detail the rehabilitation of J. W., after coma from traumatic brain injury. Originally, with many negative prognosis factors and several medical complications, prognosis was devastating. But, with continuing treatment, J. W. improved to a high level of independence in everyday life. This shows the need for rehabilitation research to further specify the "prognostic power" of various combinations of prognosis factors, so that practitioners can come to accurate single-case recommendations when both positive and negative predictors are present.