Medical aspects of pediatric rehabilitation after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury

Issue title: Pediatric Brain Injury and Recovery

Guest editors: Peter D. Patrickx and Ronald C. Savagey

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cantore, Lisa^{a; b; *} | Norwood, Kenneth^{a; b} | Patrick, Peter^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] University of Virginia Children's Hospital, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [b] Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [x] University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [y] North American Brain Injury Society, Chairman, International Pediatric, Brain Injury Society, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Lisa Cantore, CPNP-AC, MSN, RN, CCRN, 2270 Ivy Road, Charlottesville VA 22903, USA. Tel.: +1 800 627 8596; E-mail: lmc8c@virginia.edu

Abstract: Recovery from severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is prolonged, complicated and challenging. Medical rehabilitation is the bridge from acute medical care and stabilization to community reintegration. The process of caring for the recovering brain introduces unknown challenges of neural plasticity with demands to restore and to also move the child and family back to the developmental trajectory they once knew. While the ongoing focus is to maintain and advance medical stability, co- morbid conditions are addressed, and a plan for ongoing health is established. While no one manuscript can cover all of the medical aspects, this article will present in a “systems review” manner the most challenging and demanding medical conditions that children may confront following severe brain injury.

Keywords: Pediatric brain injury, autonomic instability, brain injury, deep vein thrombosis, depression, fractures, gastrostomy, headaches, heterotopic bone ossification, neurocongitive disorders, neuro-endocrine disorders, nutrition, pain, injury, pediatric rehabilitation, pressure ulcers, seizures, sleeping disorders, spasticity, tracheostomy, visual deficits

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2012-0749

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 225-234, 2012