Outcome and Predictors of Functional Recovery 5 Years Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Objectives: 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.

Conclusion: 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.