Prediction of neurobehavioral outcome 1-5 years post pediatric traumatic head injury.

OBJECTIVE To examine the neurobehavioral status of children with traumatic head injury (THI) and to identify variables that predict outcome. DESIGN Retrospective chart review, with follow-up 1-5 years after injury. Outcome predictor variables were identified through stepwise regression analysis. SETTING Level one trauma center and pediatric rehabilitation program. PATIENTS 71 Children with THI, selected from a four-year series of consecutive admissions. MEASURE Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Survey Edition. RESULTS Significant predictors of better neurobehavioral status at follow-up included absence of a premorbid learning problem (p <.01), older age at injury (p <.01), and normal pupillary response (p <.001) and higher cerebral perfusion pressure (p <.0001) during critical care management. CONCLUSIONS Neurobehavioral outcome after THI is influenced by premorbid psychosocial variables as well as by critical care management.