Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become a pressing public health concern worldwide, including the United States. This chapter highlights aspects of TBI germane to the pediatric population. In this chapter, aspects of care in children with TBI are compared and contrasted to those of the adult TBI population. These differences are evident from the epidemiologic characteristics of pediatric TBI to the variation in physiologic responses to brain injury. Special subgroups within the pediatric TBI population are also included. General rehabilitation strategies in pediatric TBI are addressed. These can involve pharmacologic management for cognition and arousal or interventional techniques and medications used to control spasticity. Common medical complications in pediatric TBI are described. Therapy strategies, common pediatric outcome measures, and the transition to adult care are presented.