Classifying mobility recovery in children and youth with brain injury during hospital-based rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes mobility recovery for children and youth with traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury during hospital-based rehabilitation.


METHODS
A retrospective, descriptive pre-test/post-test design was used.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-seven individuals with brain injury who were admitted for rehabilitation over a 5-year period were enrolled in this study. The Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) was used to document functional mobility at admission and discharge from the rehabilitation programme. The PEDI mobility classification system consisting of seven discrete levels of mobility was developed to provide clinically relevant and succinct outcome information.


RESULTS
The majority of children with brain injury (69%) improved one or more mobility classification levels. Children in the traumatic brain injury group made greater changes (p = 0.001) in mobility recovery than children in the non-traumatic group.


CONCLUSIONS
Information about recovery using a well-defined functional classification system may assist with programme evaluation and facilitate optimal service delivery.
Fragala
Maria A
MA
The Research Center for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Franciscan Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA 02135, USA. mfragala@tiac.net
Haley
Stephen M
SM
Dumas
Helene M
HM
Rabin
Jeffrey P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index