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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-945539
OUTCOME IN PAEDIATRIC BRAIN INJURY
Objective: To succinctly review the status of the literature on Outcome evaluation of Children and Youth with Acquired Brain Injury and present current Outcome data from the Bloorview MacMillan Children's Centre's Neurorehabilitation program.
Methods: Review of the current literature available in the field of paediatric ABI, and selection of those current articles/studies with Type 1, 2 + some 3 evidence relating to the short and long term outcome for those with moderate and severe acquired brain injury.
Analysis of the current outcome data available in the clinical database of the Neurorehabilitation Program at B.M.C.C.
Results: The current literature clearly demonstrates an age stratification with respect to longer term outcomes for children, weighting those younger at time of injury to the poorer long term functioning.
In addition the long term outcomes of children with moderate to severe TBI consistently lead to disability and impairment for the survivor.
Conclusion: The currently held notion that young children do better after brain injury is false and needs to be dispelled. Current long term data is showing a consistent trends across populations but has its limitations with respect to study numbers, length of follow up, and evidentiary power. Multi-centred studies with strong case controlled cohort design is needed to strengthen the current evidence. Further refinement of tools is also a key factor affecting the many domains necessary for measurement to assess the full impact of TBI/ABI on children and their families.
Keywords: Outcome, Acquired Brain Injury, Pediatric