An early onset rehabilitation program for children and adolescents after traumatic brain injury (TBI): Methods and first results

Survived traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are one of the most serious challen ges to the patient's future life. Recent literature increasingly questions the long believed protective effects of functional cerebral plasticity in c hildren. Although TBI in children and adolescents is frequent, they are les s frequently admitted to rehabilitation centers as in-patients than adults. This emphasizes the role of out-patient treatment. The progressing study described here aims to achieve a contribution to a co mprehensive approach in TBI-rehabilitation for youngsters. A two-stage mult imethodal program, starting with stimulation in coma while the patient is o n the intensive care unit, and neuropsychological therapy after regaining c onsciousness is to be evaluated in a controlled, prospective and randomized study. After including nearly 50 % of the planned sample (100 persons), some preli minary results can be mentioned with all applicable caution The effectivene ss of the applied therapy can be stated here with respect to the posttrauma tic development of intellectual abilities in the 6- and 12 months follow up s. Moreover, in the control group development of psychopathological alterat ions was found to a considerable degree and also lower ratings in a quality of life questionnaire, compared to the experimental group. It is expected to prove these differences statistically, after the total sample has been i ncluded, and thus equal distributions have been achieved in all predictive variables.