Recovery Degree in Pediatric Patients with Antecedent Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Mexico

Aims: To determine the recovery degree in pediatric patients with antecedent severe traumatic brain injury.

Study Design: Prospective, analytical and relational.

Place and Duration of Study: Pediatrics Intensive Care Area of ​​the “Hospital para el Niño Poblano” from March 2014 to February 2015.

Methodology: Patients aged 2 to 192 months, both sexes, with antecedent severe traumatic brain injury. The degree of recovery was determined with the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at hospital discharge and one year after. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used data analysis.

Results: The study consisted of 23 patients, of which 69.56% were men. The mean age was 73.17±50.33 months. The predominant age group was middle childhood (34.78%). The main mechanism of injury was run over by a vehicle (39.13%). The group of toddler remained hospitalized for 17.50±8.58 days. Moreover, GOS at hospital discharge (p=0.391) and at one year (p=0.789) was not associated with sex. Additionally, an association of GOS at hospital discharge was found with GOS at one year of care (p=0.003), with greater improvement being observed, in those cases with less initial damage brain.

Conclusion: The degree of recovery at one year after hospital discharge in pediatric patients with antecedent severe traumatic brain injury is associated with the degree of recovery at hospital discharge. Middle childhood, being the group at greatest risk. The complications can reduce the recovery of the patient. Rehabilitation therapy provided by the public health services and the family is of vital importance.