Motor performance in children after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury can result in persistent impairments of motor performance that interfere with functional activities. This study compared the gross and fine motor performance of 14 traumatically brain-injured children (five to 15 years old, with loss of consciousness for at least 24 hours) to 14 normal children group matched for age and sex. All subjects had normal intelligence and no prior history of cognitive or motor delays. Subjects were assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency at least 16 months after injury. Results were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Highly significant differences were found between groups on the Gross Motor Composite. Although no significant differences were found on the Fine Motor Composite, a highly significant difference also was found on one of the fine motor sub-tests, Upper-Limb Speed and Dexterity. Subtest analysis revealed that when speed was a component of either fine or gross motor tasks, a pattern of significant differences was found. This is consistent with previous research in neuropsychology, which has demonstrated problems in speeded motor performance of children with brain injuries. These findings provide direction for further research, clinical assessment, and treatment of this at-risk population.