Date of Award
2009
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Department
Physical Therapy
First Advisor
Mark Romanick
Keywords
Brain Injuries, Traumatic -- rehabilitation; Child; Case Reports
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Traumatic brain injury can cause many deficits including decreased balance and coordination. The purpose of this case report is to describe the interventions used and subsequent outcomes for a pediatric patient following traumatic brain injury in the acute care setting. Also, this case report serves to describe the methods and tools used in a hospital that is not equipped with pediatric-specific equipment or utilities.
Case Description: This paper describes the four-day inpatient physical therapy management of a six-year-old female who fell from a horse and sustained a left open depressed frontal skull fracture with an underlying subdural hematoma. The patient was referred to physical and occupational therapy with left sided weakness and decreased left lower extremity coordination.
Intervention: Treatments utilized for this patient included mobility and standing balance activities tailored for the pediatric patient.
Outcomes: Following physical therapy intervention, the patient achieved increased lower extremity strength, coordination, and balance.
Discussion: Rationale for treatment was based on both textbooks and current evidence based research. Treatment techniques were also based on improving the deficits in balance and coordination specific to the patient.
Recommended Citation
Holt, Michelle, "Acute Physical Therapy Management of Pediatric Patient with Traumatic Brain Injury" (2009). Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects. 516.
https://commons.und.edu/pt-grad/516