NeuroRehabilitation
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 1995
Families of children with traumatic injuries identify needs for research and training.
This paper summarizes the survey responses of 67 families with children who were hospitalized after traumatic injuries. The survey was conducted during the pre-planning phase of a major research proposal on the rehabilitation of children who had been injured. The purpose of the survey was to involve families in the identification of needs and determination of priorities for research and training in childhood injuries. ⋯ Written comments emphasized the emotional impact of physical trauma upon families and the need for longitudinal research, with pediatric rehabilitation viewed as a broad spectrum of care starting with emergency room care and hospitalization and continuing through school and community programs. As a result of this survey several projects were initiated. They include: revision of head sheets distributed by emergency rooms, physician training in communication skills, preparation of families as service coordinators, and development of materials and programs specifically for families.
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Posttraumatic agitation is perhaps the most dramatic behavioral consequence of severe traumatic brain injury. The mechanism for this behavior remains to be determined. ⋯ Concurrent neurologic or medical decline during the recovery from an acute traumatic brain injury may precipitate delirium, which has many clinical features that overlap with posttraumatic agitation. Hence, the differential diagnosis of posttraumatic agitation includes all medical and neurologic etiologies for transient declines in consciousness and cognition.