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A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)
Published on: February 7, 2025
Pediatric acquired brain injury
1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA. marie.bodack@cchmc.org
Insights
Pediatric patients experiencing acquired brain injury (ABI) can develop diverse vision problems. Early optometric intervention is crucial for these children, regardless of symptom presentation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Optometry
Background:
- Acquired brain injury (ABI) in children often results from traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Pediatric ABI research frequently overlooks vision impairments specific to this age group.
- Unlike adults, pediatric ABI studies predominantly focus on TBI from accidents.
Observation:
- This case series examined four pediatric patients (ages 3-18) with internally caused brain injuries.
- Patients presented with visual deficits post-injury, affecting acuity, binocularity, motility, accommodation, visual fields, or visual-perceptual skills.
- Examinations were conducted at a children's hospital's ophthalmology/optometry clinic.
Findings:
- Pediatric patients exhibit a range of oculo-visual problems following head injuries.
- Vision issues can manifest in various domains, including visual acuity and visual-field defects.
- Symptoms may be present or absent, highlighting the need for comprehensive visual assessment.
Implications:
- Head injuries in children can lead to significant and varied visual impairments.
- Optometric intervention can positively impact visual function in pediatric ABI patients.
- Early detection and management of vision problems are essential for optimal recovery in children with ABI.
Background:
Although pediatric patients are sometimes included in studies about visual problems in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI), few studies deal solely with children. Unlike studies dealing with adult patients, in which mechanisms of brain injury are divided into cerebral vascular accident (CVA) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), studies on pediatric patients deal almost exclusively with traumatic brain injury, specifically caused by accidents.
Case Report:
Here we report on the vision problems of 4 pediatric patients, ages 3 to 18 years, who were examined in the ophthalmology/optometry clinic at a children's hospital. All patients had an internally caused brain injury and after the initial insult manifested problems in at least one of the following areas: acuity, binocularity, motility (tracking or saccades), accommodation, visual fields, and visual perceptual skills.
Conclusion:
Pediatric patients can suffer from a variety of oculo-visual problems after the onset of head injury. These patients may or may not be symptomatic and can benefit from optometric intervention.
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