Carney et al.

(2016)

USA/Argentina

RCT

PEDro=8

N=308

Population: TBI; Intervention (n=150): Age Range=<18yr; Gender: Male=86, Female=64; Severity: Mild=65, Moderate=28, Severe=57. Control (n=158): Age Range=<18yr; Gender: Male=102, Female=56; Severity: Mild=72, Moderate=27, Severe=59.

Intervention: Patients randomly assigned to the intervention group were provided with standard care in addition to a community resource coordinator who was in contact with the family 1 day/wk. The control group received standard care only. The intervention was provided for 6 mo. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3mo and 6 mo.

Outcome Measure: Family Impact Module of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds-QL), Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC), Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC).

1.        There were no significant differences between the two groups on the Peds-QL “Quality of Life” or “Cognition” subscales (p=0.342 and p=0.612 respectively) at 6 mo.

2.        There were no significant differences between the two groups on the POPC (p=0.161) or the PCPC (p=0.454) at 6 mo.

3.        A composite score made up of the Peds-QL Quality of Life and Cognition subscales, POPC and PCPC was significantly correlated with the Peds-QL Family Impact Module (p<0.0001).

4.        There were no significant differences between the two groups on the composite score (p=0.2560) at 6 mo.

Emanuelson et al.

(2003)

Sweden/Finland

Pre-Post

N=10

Population: ABI: TBI=8, Tumor=1, Encephalitis=1; Mean Age=12.4yr; Time Post Injury=<6wk; Mean GCS=8.2.

Intervention: Patients participated in a multidisciplinary community outreach intervention program consisting of one social worker, one physiotherapist, one occupational therapist, two neurologists, two neuropsychologists, and three special education teachers. Counselling was also provided by a special education teacher and/or a neuropsychologist. Assessments were conducted at 2 wk and 6 wk post-injury, and at 12 mo follow-up.

Outcome Measure: Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), Abilities Index (AI), Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).

1.        No significant improvements were reported on any of the WISC measures used from 6wk post injury to 12mo follow-up.

2.        A significant improvement was found for BOTMP scores from 6 wk post injury to 12mo follow-up (p<0.050) with patients demonstrating greater motor functions.

3.        Mild improvements were found on the AI for communication and behaviour but general health and extremity functioning declined slightly from 2 wk post injury to 12 mo follow-up. No significant improvements or decreases were found on any measures of the AI.