Children's brain injury: a postal follow-up of 525 children from one health region in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
To follow-up a population of children admitted to one Hospital Trust with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and compare outcomes following mild TBI with outcomes following moderate or severe TBI.


METHODS
Population-based postal questionnaire survey.


METHODS
Questionnaires were mailed to parents of all 974 surviving children on a register of paediatric TBI admissions, 525 completed questionnaires were returned (56.2%). Most children (419) had suffered mild TBI, 57 moderate, and 49 severe.


RESULTS
Thirty per cent of parents received no information on post-injury symptoms, and clinical follow-up was limited. Statistically significant differences were observed between mild and moderate/severe groups for cognitive, social, emotional, and mobility problems. Nevertheless, approximately 20% of the mild group suffered from poor concentration, personality change and educational problems post-injury. Few schools (20%) made special provision for children returning after injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Children can have long-lasting and wide-ranging sequelae following TBI. Information should be routinely given to parents and schools after brain injury.
Hawley
Carol A
CA
Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. c.a.hawley@warwick.ac.uk
Ward
Anthony B
AB
Magnay
Andrew R
AR
Long
Julie
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D006113:United Kingdom