Neuroimaging in paediatric mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neurology
• Neuroscience
• Radiology

Background:

• Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in children and adolescents can lead to delayed recovery.
• Neuroimaging is increasingly used to understand the brain changes associated with pediatric mTBI.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review neuroimaging research on pediatric mTBI (ages 0-18).
• To assess the link between advanced neuroimaging findings and post-concussive syndrome (PCS).
• To evaluate study quality and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, PubMed).
• Studies were screened by title and abstract, followed by full-text review based on eligibility criteria.
• Fifty-eight imaging studies met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review.

Main Results:

• Methodological heterogeneity and small sample sizes limit current findings.
• There is insufficient evidence to establish a clear relationship between MRI findings and clinical outcomes in pediatric mTBI.
• The quality of existing research varies, with many studies not meeting best practice guidelines.

Conclusions:

• Current neuroimaging research on pediatric mTBI is limited in its ability to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Future research should employ prospective, longitudinal designs with multimodal imaging.
• Minimizing confounds and standardizing methodologies are essential for advancing the field.