Gross motor change after inpatient rehabilitation for children with acquired brain injury: A 10-year retrospective review.

AIM

To estimate gross motor change in inpatient school-aged children with subacute acquired brain injury (ABI), identify factors associated with gross motor change, and describe inpatient physiotherapy focus.

METHOD

This retrospective chart review involved inpatient children (5-18 years) with subacute ABI who had either two Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) assessments or one GMFM-88 with another pre/post gross motor outcome measure. Outcome change scores and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) T scores were calculated. Regression analyses examined factors predicting gross motor change. GAS goal areas were analysed to determine physiotherapy focus.

RESULTS

Of the 546 charts screened, 266 (118 female) met study criteria. The GMFM-88 was generally administered first, followed by other measures. GMFM-88 (n = 202), Community Balance and Mobility Scale (n = 89), and Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) (n = 98) mean change scores were 18.03% (SD 19.34), 17.85% (SD 10.77), and 142.3 m (SD 101.8) respectively. The mean GAS T score was 55.06 (SD 11.50). Lower baseline scores and increased time between assessments were most predictive of greater GMFM-88 change (r ≥ 0.40). Twenty-five percent of GAS goals were ambulation-based.

INTERPRETATION

Appropriate outcome measure selection is integral to detecting gross motor change in pediatric inpatient ABI rehabilitation. Mean change score estimates can be used to compare standard inpatient rehabilitation with new treatment approaches.