The relation between neurological trauma parameters and long-term outcome in children with closed head injury.

In a study of 54 children with closed head injury, the relation between neurological severity indicators and the occurrence of long-term sequelae was investigated. Patient data were recorded during the clinical phase and during a 2 year follow up period. A correlation analysis identified early predictors for the occurrence of long-term sequelae. In particular, the duration of coma and of post-traumatic amnesia correlated strongly with the occurrence of neurological, behavioural and intellectual residual sequelae but not with the more subjective complaints.