Child outcomes and family characteristics 1 year after severe inflicted or noninflicted traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To assess outcomes 1 year after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) among young children and to compare outcomes between children with inflicted versus noninflicted injuries.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
All North Carolina-resident children who were hospitalized between January 2000 and December 2001 in any of the state's 9 PICUs and who survived a severe TBI that occurred on or before their second birthday were eligible to participate. Child health status, child use of ancillary medical resources, and family characteristics were determined through maternal caregiver interviews approximately 1 year after injury. Comparisons were made between family characteristics and child outcomes according to injury type.


RESULTS
Seventy-two interviews of maternal caregivers were completed among 112 survivors (64.3%). Children with inflicted injuries (n = 41) had worse outcomes than did children with noninflicted injuries (n = 31), as measured with the Pediatric Outcome Performance Category and Stein-Jessup Functional Status II (Revised) tools. However, approximately 50% of children with inflicted injuries had only mild deficits or better. Children with inflicted injuries had a higher use of ancillary medical resources. Families caring for the children did not differ substantively, with a large proportion of single, working, minority mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with inflicted TBIs had worse outcomes than did children with other TBIs 1 year after injury. However, outcomes for these children were better than those reported previously. Many families caring for children after severe TBI are socially disadvantaged. Interventions to improve child outcomes may include enhanced family support.
Keenan
Heather T
HT
Department of Pediatrics, Intermountain Injury Research Control Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. heather.keenan@hsc.utah.edu
Runyan
Desmond K
DK
Nocera
Maryalice
M
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002649:Child Abuse; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score