Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)
Published on: February 7, 2025
Determinants of Quality of Life after Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Nazan Ulgen Tekerek1, Oguz Dursun1, Selen Karalok2
1Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) significantly impacts quality of life. The Rotterdam CT score and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) length of stay are key factors determining long-term quality of life for child survivors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Neurotrauma research
- Quality of life assessment
Background:
- Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability in children.
- Limited data exists on the quality of life (QoL) for survivors of pediatric TBI.
- Understanding factors influencing QoL is crucial for improving long-term outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors associated with quality of life in children who have experienced TBI.
- To investigate the relationship between injury characteristics, clinical course, and QoL outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 104 pediatric patients admitted to the PICU with TBI was studied.
- Data collected included demographics, injury severity, PedsQL, GOS, and Rotterdam CT scores.
- Statistical analyses, including univariate analysis and linear regression, were performed.
Main Results:
- Severe TBI, multiple trauma, intracranial hemorrhage, convulsions, high ICP, emergency surgery, and hypotension were linked to lower PedsQL scores.
- Lower PedsQL scores correlated with GOS, mechanical ventilation duration, PICU LOS, and hospital LOS.
- Rotterdam CT score and PICU LOS independently predicted lower PedsQL scores.
Conclusions:
- The Rotterdam CT score and PICU length of stay are significant independent predictors of reduced quality of life in pediatric TBI survivors.
- Age (≥ 8 years) and assessment within the first year post-discharge were also associated with lower QoL.
Abstract:
Introduction Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of death and long-term disability. There is a paucity of data on quality of life in survivors of pediatric TBI. The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting the quality of life after TBI in children. Methods Consecutively admitted 104 of 156 patients to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with TBI between 1 month and 18 years were included in the study. Demographics were obtained from electronic records. Injury severity and mortality scores were calculated. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) scale and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score were evaluated by interview with patient or the caregiving parents. The Rotterdam computed tomography (CT) score was calculated from the radiology images taken within the first 24 hours after admission to the emergency service. Results Severe TBI, multiple trauma, intracranial hemorrhage from multiple sites, convulsions, high intracranial pressure, emergency operation on admission, and hypotension on admission were associated with low PedsQL values according to results of univariate analysis ( p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between PedsQL and GOS, mechanical ventilation duration, PICU length of stay (LOS), and hospital LOS. In the linear regression model made by considering the univariate analysis results, it was shown that Rotterdam CT score and PICU LOS are independent variables that determine low PedsQL score. PedsQL scores were lower in children ≥ 8 years of age and in those evaluated within the first year after discharge ( p = 0.003). Conclusion In pediatric TBI, Rotterdam CT score and PICU LOS were found as independent variables determining PedsQL score after discharge.
