Cognitive Outcome in Children and Young Adults Who Sustained Severe and Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury 10 Years Earlier

Objective: This study is a population-based, retrospective follow-up study of neuropsychological functions after severe and moderate TBI.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-five survivors of TBI injured in 1987-1991 in the 0-17-year age group were identified. Of the traceable individuals (149), 53 patients who sustained injury at a mean of 9.96 years participated in a neuropsychological investigation 10 years post-injury. A control group of 40 healthy subjects, matched for age and sex was chosen. An extensive neuropsychological test battery was used.

Results: The TBI group showed significantly poorer performance in tests of intellectual function, with substantially lower results in verbal tests and in tests of verbal learning and memory, visuo-constructive ability and executive functions. The severely injured group showed substantial recovery. Poor results in visuo-constructive tests and tests of executive functions remained.

Conclusions: Severity of injury is an important factor when assessing outcome, even 10 years after childhood TBI. The TBI group obtained poorer results on most of the measurements compared with healthy controls. Verbal function was strongly affected which needs to be taken into consideration when preparing for rehabilitation programmes. Evaluations of final outcome should not be made before the subjects reach adulthood.