Paediatric Moderate to Severe Injury to the Central Nervous System: Patients' and Caregivers' Experiences of Medical Complications and Related Healthcare Needs

IF 1.8 4区医学 Q2 PEDIATRICS

Child Care Health and Development Pub Date : 2025-07-14 DOI:10.1111/cch.70137

Kristine Marie M. Vege, Grethe Månum, Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen, Frank Becker

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

Few studies describe medical complications after central nervous injury in children and adolescents as a whole, with a focus on their consequences for patients and their caregivers. This study explores the frequency and effects of medical complications on such children and youth, as well as their caregivers, after discharge from a tertiary rehabilitation centre.

Materials and Methods

This questionnaire-based study included 151 patients aged 2–18 years admitted to a tertiary rehabilitation centre due to acquired injury to the central nervous system in the years 2016–2021.

Results

Seventy answers were retrieved between 11 and 85 months post-injury. The majority of the patients (67%) had experienced medical complications following their central nervous system injury. The most frequent complications were sleep difficulties (39%), pain (26%), spasticity (26%), constipation (22%) and overweight (17%). There were no substantial differences related to gender, age, or diagnosis group. Frequency of complications and length of rehabilitation stay were associated with an increase of 4% for each additional day of admission. Those reporting medical complications more frequently used medication for the same complications during subacute rehabilitation. They also tended to have more serious injuries. Just above a quarter of those reporting medical complications needed hospital admission and/or surgery, while the majority could be treated at a lower healthcare level. The majority answered that the complications were time consuming and had consequences for the ability to perform everyday tasks and the capacity to participate in leisure activities. The complications' psychological impact was also highlighted.

Conclusion

Medical complications occur frequently in children/youth who have sustained an injury to the central nervous system that requires inpatient rehabilitation. They have consequences for multiple aspects of the patient's life, even years after discharge from the rehabilitation institution.

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小儿中重度中枢神经系统损伤：患者和护理者的医疗并发症经历和相关的医疗保健需求

很少有研究将儿童和青少年中枢神经损伤后的医学并发症作为一个整体进行描述，重点关注其对患者及其护理人员的影响。本研究探讨了这些儿童和青少年及其照顾者从三级康复中心出院后出现医疗并发症的频率和影响。材料与方法本研究以问卷调查为基础，纳入了2016-2021年间因中枢神经系统获得性损伤而入住三级康复中心的151例2-18岁患者。结果在损伤后11 ~ 85个月间共检索到70份问卷。大多数患者（67%）在中枢神经系统损伤后出现了并发症。最常见的并发症是睡眠困难（39%）、疼痛（26%）、痉挛（26%）、便秘（22%）和超重（17%）。性别、年龄或诊断组间无显著差异。入院每增加一天，并发症的发生频率和康复停留时间增加4%。那些报告医学并发症的患者在亚急性康复期间更频繁地使用药物治疗相同的并发症。他们也往往有更严重的伤害。在报告出现医疗并发症的人中，略高于四分之一的人需要住院和/或手术，而大多数人可以在较低的医疗水平接受治疗。大多数人回答说，并发症是耗时的，并对执行日常任务的能力和参加休闲活动的能力产生影响。并发症的心理影响也被强调。结论儿童/青少年中枢神经系统损伤需要住院康复治疗的并发症较多。它们会对患者生活的多个方面产生影响，甚至在康复机构出院数年后也会如此。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Child Care Health and Development 医学-小儿科

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

5.30%

发文量

136

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： Child: care, health and development is an international, peer-reviewed journal which publishes papers dealing with all aspects of the health and development of children and young people. We aim to attract quantitative and qualitative research papers relevant to people from all disciplines working in child health. We welcome studies which examine the effects of social and environmental factors on health and development as well as those dealing with clinical issues, the organization of services and health policy. We particularly encourage the submission of studies related to those who are disadvantaged by physical, developmental, emotional and social problems. The journal also aims to collate important research findings and to provide a forum for discussion of global child health issues.