Introduction: Over the past few years there has been a lot of discussion over whether the mnemonic disorders that can appear after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) present as transitory deficits or can remain as permanent sequelae.
Aims: To study whether there are mnemonic disorders in mild TBI or not, and to examine their evolution over the first year.
Patients and methods: 60 adult subjects of both sexes with mild TBI, all of whom satisfied the criteria of the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, were studied at four different moments of their evolution (during the first seven days, at one month, at six months and at one year after the traumatism). The sample was completed with 60 normal adult subjects who shared similar demographic characteristics.
Material: clinical scales for measuring TBI, cognitive screening tests and neuropsychological mnemonic tests that measure verbal learning, immediate and delayed logical verbal memory, visuospatial and visuo constructive memory.
Statistical analysis: data were analysed using ANOVA of repeated measures and a posteriori testing using Scheffe F test.
Conclusions: Memory was affected in these patients for at least the first week after the traumatic injury took place. At one month, immediate and delayed logical verbal memory and visuo constructive memory showed cognitive performances that were similar to the control group. Learning and the verbal auditory capacity to retain a list of words were still altered one year after the traumatic injury occurred.