Objective

To report the family impact of traumatic brain injury in children.

Material/patients and methods

Prospective study conducted in the department of physical and rehabilitation medicine of Kassab Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics concerning children followed for traumatic brain injury sequalea.

Results

Twelve children were included in the study with a mean age of 8.3 years. Brain injury was related to a road accident in 11 children and domestic accident in 1 child. Seven children among 12 studied when the accident occurred, 4 have continued their studies after the trauma but with considerable learning difficulties. We noted conflict related to trauma in 4 families without divorce. Three parents had to interrupt work. Additional financial burdens have been reported in 11 families. The psychobalance of other non-injured children was disrupted in 6 families with school deflection. The extent of the distress felt by the parents was assessed (scored from 1 to 6) with an average of 5.2. No home adaptations have been made and no family has benefited from associative or social assistance.

Discussion–conclusion

Traumatic brain injury disturbs seriously the child’s mental balance and his family. It represents real public health problem.