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.

Introducción En los últimos años se ha cuestionado mucho si las alteraciones mnésicas que pueden aparecer tras un traumatismo craneoencefálico (TCE) leve se presentan como déficit transitorios o pueden mantenerse como secuelas permanentes.

Objetivo Estudiar la existencia o no de alteraciones mnésicas en TCE leve y su evolución a lo largo del primer año.

Pacientes y métodos 60 sujetos adultos de ambos sexos con TCE leve estudiados en cuatro momentos evolutivos –durante los primeros siete días, al mes, a los seis meses y al año del traumatismo–, que cumplían los criterios de Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, y 60 sujetos adultos normales con características demográficas similares. Material: escalas clínicas para medir la gravedad del TCE, tests de rastreo cognitivos y pruebas neuropsicológicas mnésicas que miden aprendizaje verbal, memoria verbal lógica inmediata y demorada, memoria visuoespacial y visuoconstructiva. Análisis estadísticos: ANOVA de medidas repetidas y pruebas a posteriori Scheffe F­test.

Conclusiones La memoria se afecta en estos pacientes al menos durante la primera semana después del traumatismo. La memoria verbal lógica inmediata y demorada y la memoria visuoconstructiva muestran al mes rendimientos cognitivos similares al grupo control. El aprendizaje y capacidad de retención auditiva verbal de una lista de palabras continúan alterados al año del traumatismo.