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A Narrative Review of Pharmacologic and Non-pharmacologic Interventions for Disorders of Consciousness Following Brain Injury in the Pediatric Population

  • Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation (A. K. Wagner, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of long-term disability in the United States. A significant proportion of children who experience a TBI will have moderate or severe injuries, which includes a period of decreased responsiveness. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities are used for treating disorders of consciousness after TBI in children. However, the evidence supporting the use of potential therapies is relatively scant, even in adults, and overall, there is a paucity of study in pediatrics. The goal of this review is to describe the state of the science for use of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions for disorders of consciousness in the pediatric population.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this work was supported in part by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development Grants HD074683 (BGK) and HD001097 (NKE). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or other supporting agencies. The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

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  1. Division of Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3026, USA

    Nathan K. Evanson, Andrea L. Paulson & Brad G. Kurowski

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  1. Nathan K. Evanson
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  3. Brad G. Kurowski
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Correspondence to Brad G. Kurowski.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation.

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Evanson, N.K., Paulson, A.L. & Kurowski, B.G. A Narrative Review of Pharmacologic and Non-pharmacologic Interventions for Disorders of Consciousness Following Brain Injury in the Pediatric Population. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 4, 56–70 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-016-0108-7

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