Functional outcome in pediatric trauma.
Two hundred fifty consecutive children hospitalized with severe injuries (at least one injury with an Abbreviated Injury Score [AIS] greater than or equal to 4 or two or more injuries with AIS scores greater than or equal to 2) were studied to determine their functional status at discharge and 6 months later using questions from the RAND Health Insurance Study (HIS) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Of the 217 surviving patients, 190 (88%) had one or more functional limitations by the HIS scale at discharge. Ten (5%) were in a vegetative state, 40 (18%) severely disabled, 97 (45%) moderately disabled, and 70 (32%) healthy by the GOS. Six-month followup was complete for 156 patients. Of these, 84 (54%) had one or more functional limitations by the HIS scale. Seven (4%) were in a vegetative state, 17 (11%) severely disabled, 50 (32%) moderately disabled, and 82 (53%) healthy by the GOS. A substantial proportion of the whole group of children hospitalized for the treatment of severe injuries had ongoing physical disabilities that limited their participation in normal activities 6 months after they were discharged. This suggests a need for greater emphasis on the rehabilitation of pediatric trauma patients.
Wesson
D E
DE
Department of Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Williams
J I
JI
Spence
L J
LJ
Filler
R M
RM
Armstrong
P F
PF
Pearl
R H
RH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*