title: LOCFAS-Assessed Evolution of Cognitive and Behavioral Functioning in a Sample of Pediatric Patients With Severe Acquired Brain Injury in the Postacute Phase.
abstract: We studied 86 patients with severe acquired brain injuries of different etiology, aged 0 to 18 years, in a condition of vegetative state or minimally conscious state. During neurorehabilitation, we administered the Level of Cognitive Functioning Assessment Scale every 2 weeks in order to describe and compare the progressive improvement in their cognitive-behavioral functioning and responsiveness in different etiologies. Patients with traumatic brain injury showed more favorable clinical outcomes. The higher the level of functioning at the first evaluation, the better the outcome, and the higher the Glasgow Coma Scale score, the higher the Level of Cognitive Functioning Assessment Scale level reached at the end of hospitalization. Patients with an apparently stable clinical picture, too, showed a change in their ability to interact with the environment. This study underlines the importance of an individualized and early cognitive-behavioral intervention protocol that can reveal minimal and fluctuating responses.
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy valentina.pastore@bp.lnf.it.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galbiati
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galbiati
authors.affiliation: "Eugenio Medea" Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strazzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: brain injuries; coma; pediatric; persistent vegetative state; rehabilitation