Impact of Early Mobilization and Rehabilitation on Functional Outcomes Following Craniocerebral Gunshot Injuries

Craniocerebral gunshot injury (CGI) is a severe form of traumatic brain injury associated with profound neurological, cognitive, and functional impairment, often requiring prolonged rehabilitation. We report the case of a 17-year-old boy with a penetrating CGI who presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3/15, intracranial hemorrhage, a depressed frontal skull fracture, retained bullet fragments, and complete dependence in activities of daily living. Following neurosurgical stabilization, the patient underwent a structured, multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation program over 12 weeks (48 sessions). The intervention focused on pain management, spasticity control, postural and trunk stabilization, balance and gait training, cognitive stimulation, and task-oriented functional practice. Post-intervention assessments indicated resolution of pain, reduction in muscle tone abnormalities, improved functional independence, progression to assisted ambulation, enhanced cognitive function, and improved health-related quality of life. These findings suggest that structured multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation may be associated with functional improvements after CGI.