Monitoring Outcome after Hospital-Presenting Milder Spectrum Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended, Pediatric Revision

The Glasgow Outcome Scale, Pediatric Revision (GOSE-P) is an assessment of "global outcome" designed as a developmentally appropriate version of the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended for use in clinical trials of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Initial testing describes validity across a wide age and injury severity spectrum, yet the GOSE-P's utility for monitoring children with milder injuries is less clear. We examined the level of agreement between the GOSE-P and the Health and Behavior Inventory (HBI), a TBI-related symptom checklist used to assess children with mild TBI for clinical and research purposes. Participants included children and adolescents 3-16 years of age (n = 50) who presented to two level 1 trauma centers within 24 h of injury, with a GCS of 13-15, who underwent clinical neuroimaging. Outcome was assessed 2 weeks and 3 months following injury. We examined the severity of TBI-related symptoms across disability categories identified using the GOSE-P, and the level of agreement between the two measures in identifying deficits 2 weeks following injury and improvement from 2 weeks to 3 months. Using the GOSE-P, 62% had deficits at 2 weeks, and 42% improved from 2 weeks to 3 months. Agreement between the GOSE-P and HBI was fair 2 weeks after TBI (k = 0.24-0.33), and poor for identifying subsequent improvement (k = 0.10-0.16). Modest agreement between the GOSE-P and the HBI may reflect restricted participation from diverse causes, including TBI, other bodily injuries, and prescribed activity restrictions, and highlights the need for multi-dimensional outcome batteries.