Short-term durability and improvement of function in traumatic brain injury: a pilot study using the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) classification levels

Primary objective: To describe the short-term durability and improvement of functional outcomes for children and adolescents with traumatic brain inju ry (TBI) up to 6 months after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Research design: Retrospective, descriptive. Methods and procedures: Twenty-five (28.1%) of 89 children discharged from inpatient rehabilitation were available for outpatient follow-up within 6 m onths. The Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) functional skill classification levels in the domains of self-care, mobility, and soci al function, recorded at discharge and follow-up, were examined using the W ilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test (two-tailed). Main outcomes and results: Most (64-80%) of the children sustained the outc ome level achieved at hospital discharge in one or more of the three domain s. Significant differences (p<0.05) from discharge to follow-up were detect ed in mobility and social function levels. Differences between children wit h and without follow-up were non-significant in all but one variable (socia l function level at hospital discharge). Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that children after TBI sus tain outcomes achieved during inpatient rehabilitation and make significant gains in mobility and social function skills within 6 months of returning home. More research is needed to predict those children who will continue t o recover and to identify factors that facilitate recovery in the community setting.