Comparative Assessment of Severe Pediatric TBI Management between Developed and Developing Country Institutions: A Study Comparing Phoenix, Arizona to Neiva, Columbia

Abstract

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an etiologically heterogeneous condition that represents a global public health issue with major socioeconomic impact. Evidence-based guidelines for pediatric TBI management exist, and were last updated by the Brain Trauma Foundation in 2012. There are, however, limitations and barriers to their implementation; one such are the differences in resource utilization and availability in developed versus developing countries. In this study, we performed a retrospective review of pediatric patients with severe TBI in two tertiary, pediatric hospitals in the United States and Colombia, comparing characteristics, management and outcomes.