Till now MRIs of the brain discovered swelling and bleeding in the brain after a head injury but not much else. The injury was difficult to diagnose and they pretty much ”worked in the dark” when it came to predict outcomes and plans for rehabilitation and recovery. Now with new research that maps the brain (nerve) fibers–white matter–in living color doctors can determine where there are breaks in the wiring similar to seeing broken bones. The new MRI based computer programs can predict if a patient will wake up from his coma and in what condition. That way they can start rehabilitation in hopes of healing the patient. Basically the high definition fiber tracking predicts what will happen.
When it is determined that meaningful rehabilitation can take place and the patient is sufficiently recovered the TUTOR system can be put into use to try to reactivate affected limbs and joints. The TUTOR system which consists of the HANDTUTOR, ARMTUTOR, LEGTUTOR and 3DTUTOR are a recent innovation created to challenge the TBI patient with intensive exercises through the use of dedicated software in the form of games that must be mastered. The patient accomplishes the various tasks using his own strengths while under the constant supervision of physical and occupational therapists. The therapists then customize an exercise program with augmented feedback.
The TUTOR system has been in use for some time now in leading U.S. and European hospitals and clinics for the rehabilitation of patients who have had a brain or spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, CP, MS, stroke, upper and lower limb surgeries and other disabilities.
The TUTOR system is certified by the FDA and CE and can also be used through telerehabilitation in the patient’s home. See WWW.HANDTUTOR.COM for more information.
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