Outcome and predictors of functional recovery 5 years following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to examine functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) during early childhood, to investigate impairments up to 5 years postinjury and identify predictors of outcome.


METHODS
The study compared three groups of children (mild = 11, moderate = 22, severe = 15), aged 2.0-6.11 years at injury, to a healthy control group (n = 17). Using a prospective, longitudinal design, adaptive abilities, behavior, and family functioning were investigated acutely, 6, 30 months and 5 years postinjury, with educational progress investigated at 30 months and 5 years postinjury.


RESULTS
A strong association was suggested between injury severity and outcomes across all domains. Further, 5-year outcomes in adaptive and behavioral domains were best predicted by preinjury levels of child function, and educational performance by injury severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Children who sustain a severe TBI in early childhood are at greatest risk of long-term impairment in day-to-day skills in the long-term postinjury.
Catroppa
Cathy
C
Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. catroppc@tpg.com.au
Anderson
Vicki A
VA
Morse
Sue A
SA
Haritou
Flora
F
Rosenfeld
Jeffrey V
JV
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014739:Victoria