title: Outcome and predictors of functional recovery 5 years following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. catroppc@tpg.com.au
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catroppa
authors.forename: Vicki A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Sue A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haritou
authors.forename: Jeffrey V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: 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