Growth monitoring following traumatic brain injury. Issue 9 (26th November 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moon, R J; Wilson, P; Kirkham, F J; Davies, J H
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 94:Issue 9(2009)
• Page Start: 699
• Page End: 701
• Publication Date: 2008-11-26
• Subjects: Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2008.145235
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Hypopituitarism is an important consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Growth monitoring can be used as an indicator of pituitary function in children. A retrospective audit of case notes of 123 children who required intensive care unit admission with TBI found that only 71 (33%) of 212 attendances in 38 of 85 children followed up had documented height and weight measurements. Children were reviewed in 11 different specialty clinics, which showed a wide variation in the frequency of growth monitoring. Serial growth measurements were available for only 22 patients (17%), which showed a reduction in height standard deviation scores (0.17 (SD 0.33), p = 0.017) over a mean follow-up period of 25.2 (SD 21.6) months. In conclusion, growth monitoring following TBI was poorly performed in this cohort, highlighting the need for a co-ordinated approach by primary and secondary care and all departments in tertiary centres involved in the follow-up of children with TBI.