A case of frontal neuropsychological and neuroimaging signs following multiple primary-blast exposure

作者：Hayes Jasmeet Pannu^*; Morey Rajendra A; Tupler Larry A

来源：Neurocase, 2012, 18(3): 258-269.

DOI：10.1080/13554794.2011.588181

• Blast-induced neurotrauma
• Closed-head injury
• Diffusion-tensor imaging
• Executive control
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service
• Fractional anisotropy
• Primary blast
• Traumatic brain injury
• White matter

Blast-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars represents a significant medical concern for troops and veterans. To better understand the consequences of primary-blast injury in humans, we present a case of a Marine exposed to multiple primary blasts during his 14-year military career. The neuropsychological profile of this formerly high-functioning veteran suggested primarily executive dysfunction. Diffusion-tensor imaging revealed white-matter pathology in long fiber tracks compared with a composite fractional-anisotropy template derived from a veteran reference control group without TBI. This study supports the existence of primary blast-induced neurotrauma in humans and introduces a neuroimaging technique with potential to discriminate multiple-blast TBI.

• 出版日期2012