Keywords

age, functional independence measure, functional outcomes, pediatric rehabilitation, predictive model, traumatic brain injury

 

Authors

  1. Niedzwecki, Christian M. DO
  2. Marwitz, Jennifer H. MA
  3. Ketchum, Jessica M. PhD
  4. Cifu, David X. MD
  5. Dillard, Charles M. MD
  6. Monasterio, Eugenio A. MD

Abstract

Objectives: To examine age-related differences in functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury.

 

Participants and procedure: Seventy-six patients admitted to a pediatric acute rehabilitation hospital were compared with 2548 adult patients in the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-funded traumatic brain injury model systems national database.

 

Main outcome measures: Functional Independence Measure totals during inpatient rehabilitation.

 

Results: Increasing age was significantly associated with improved outcome in children and with poorer outcome in adults.

 

Conclusion: The relationship between age and functional outcome is different within different age groups (pediatric vs adult), and the effect of moderating variables differs by age group.