AUTHOR=Nacoti Mirco , Fazzi Francesco , Biroli Francesco , Zangari Rosalia , Barbui Tiziano , Kochanek Patrick M. , The Collaborative Pediatric TBI Working Group , Bertolini Guido , Bonanomi Ezio , Bressan Silvia , Chiara Osvaldo , Citerio Giuseppe , Figaji Anthony , Fink Ericka L , Gabrieli Alberto , Gerevini Simonetta , Iacoangeli Maurizio , Lazar Isaac , Lorini Luca Ferdinando , Matula Christian , Pellicioli Isabella , Piatelli Gianluca , Servadei Franco , Sicignano Mirco , Simon Dennis W , Strazzer Sandra , Vitali Giuliana TITLE=Addressing Key Clinical Care and Clinical Research Needs in Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Perspectives From a Focused International Conference JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=8 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.594425 DOI=10.3389/fped.2020.594425 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents. Survivors of severe TBI are more prone to functional deficits, resulting in poorer school performance, poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and increased risk of mental health problems. Critical gaps in knowledge of pathophysiological differences between children and adults concerning TBI outcomes, the paucity of pediatric trials and prognostic models and the uncertain extrapolation of adult data to pediatrics pose significant challenges and demand global efforts. Here, we explore the clinical and research unmet needs focusing on severe pediatric TBI to identify best practices in pathways of care and optimize both inpatient and outpatient management of children following TBI.