title: The prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging in moderate and severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating condition with significant long-term mortality and morbidity. Despite current need for objective indicators to guide initial decision-making, few reliable acute phase prognostic factors have been identified. Early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been investigated as a prognostic tool, but uncertainty remains in both its discriminative predictive value and which acute phase lesion patterns correlate with long-term outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will conduct a systematic review of observational cohort studies and randomized controlled trials of adult moderate or severe TBI patients who underwent MRI in the acute phase after trauma. A high sensitivity search strategy will be employed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, and Cochrane CENTRAL to identify citations. Two reviewers will independently screen all identified references for eligibility and extract data into a standardized form. Data will be collected on study design, baseline demographics, trauma characteristics, magnetic resonance (MR) technical specifications, lesion patterns, and outcomes as related to acute MRI imaging. If meta-analysis is possible, quantitative data for each outcome will be pooled per type of lesion pattern using random effects models and expressed as Mantel-Haenszel relative risks in order to determine the prognostic value of lesions detected on acute MRI and their strength as discriminatory predictors of long-term outcome. Statistical heterogeneity will be evaluated with the I (2) statistics, and risk of bias and reporting quality will be assessed with standardized scales. Subgroup analyses are planned as a function of TBI severity, MRI-timing post-TBI, MRI field strength, MRI sequence, timing of outcome assessment, and risk of bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We expect significant clinical heterogeneity, as eligible studies will likely encompass different periods in evolving MRI technology in addition to significant variability of image sequence protocols and timing of acquisition between centers. Based on existing studies in TBI, we expect lesions detected in the brainstem to be of significant predictive value as MRI is particularly sensitive for imaging the brain's posterior fossa. Our systematic review will allow clinicians to more accurately interpret MRI in the context of determining prognosis for moderate and severe TBI patients and inform researchers in this domain to improve the methodology of future studies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Prospero CRD42015017074.
authors.affiliation: CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit (Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. hourmazd.haghbayan.1@ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Hourmazd
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haghbayan
authors.affiliation: CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit (Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. amelie.boutin.2@ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boutin
authors.affiliation: CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit (Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. mathieu.laflamme.2@ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laflamme
authors.affiliation: CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit (Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. francois.lauzier@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. francois.lauzier@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. francois.lauzier@fmed.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauzier
authors.affiliation: CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit (Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. Michele.Shemilt@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shemilt
authors.affiliation: CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit (Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. lynne.moore@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. lynne.moore@fmed.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology/Medical Oncology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. rzarychanski@cancercare.mb.ca.|CancerCare Manitoba, Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. rzarychanski@cancercare.mb.ca.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zarychanski
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. dafergusson@ohri.ca.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fergusson
authors.affiliation: CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit (Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. alexis.turgeon@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. alexis.turgeon@fmed.ulaval.ca.|Department of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. alexis.turgeon@fmed.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Alexis F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Turgeon
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic