Post-Acute Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury: From the Pediatric Specialists

Salma Children's Rehabilitation Hospital (SCRH) is offering a unique service for the region. Specialized in pediatric post-acute rehabilitation (PAR) following traumatic brain injury (TBI), our team of health care professionals ensure that the patient gets the best care available.

A common concern in the UAE is the division of specializations across several centers throughout the healthcare journey. Often, PAR patients will visit at least three different hospitals/clinics during their treatment plan. Well documented and researched evidence shows significant, ongoing impairments for children and adolescents following TBI across physical, cognitive, educational and behavioral domains[1][2]. Our treatment plans are bridging this gap, offering continuity and consistency that aims to improve outcomes.

In the early stages of the acute phase, information shared with parents of the injured child/ adolescent is usually regarding the immediate plan of care and often, about lifesaving procedures. At this stage, most families acknowledge that they are unable to absorb many details and only want simple, essential information[3].

At the point of the post- acute/rehabilitation phase, patients are transferred to Salma hospital where the road to recovery starts. During this stage predications and identifying long-term consequences will provide substantial benefits for PAR patients and their families. Often, it is unclear what the precise outcome will be and how much the injured child/adolescent will return to full function. Families and patients are looking for support and guidance at this point, including information on what to expect from the recovery process[4].

After discharge from the post-acute facility, parents need to progress to out-patient clinics with the therapies that they need to finish out the treatment plan. This is the point that can be most difficult for parents to ensure continuity of care. Roscigno[5] reports that relevant referrals are not always made and the staff in out-patient centers often have insufficient knowledge on how to treat/give guidance to these PAR children.

This is where salma Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital is exceeding expectations. Salma is highly specialized in the intensive post-acute rehabilitation and has the knowledge and the skills to guide and treat post-acute patients as well as support families in the transitions. At our outpatient clinic, children can continue the care plan with their regular therapists, who they are familiar and comfortable with. Our therapists assist with the transition back to community and school – sometimes by providing home/school visits for training/guiding teachers or family members. This support is ongoing, with follow-ups on abilities occurring months and years after the incidents.

[1] Beauchamp M. et al (2020) kids’ outcomes and long-term abilities KOALA; protocol for a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of mild traumatic brain injury in children 6 months to 6 years of age; BMJ open

[2] Clasby. B. Hughers, Catroppa C, (2018) Community-based interventions for Adolescents following traumatic Brain injury; systematic review, Neurorehabilitation

[3] Kirk S, Fallon D, Fraser C, et al. (2015) Supporting parents following childhood traumatic brain injury: a qualitative study to examine information and emotional support needs across key care transitions. Child Care Health Dev

[4] Beauchamp M. et al (2020); kids’ outcomes and long-term abilities KOALA; protocol for a prosprective, longitudubnak cohort study of mild traumatic brain injury in children 6 months to 6 years of age; BMJ open

[5] Roscigno CI, Fleig DK, Knafl KA.(2015) Parent management of the school reintegration needs of children and youth following moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. Disabil Rehabil 37: 523–533.