The New CAT Definition: Brain Injury in Children · 2016-04-26 · The New CAT Definition: Brain Injury in Children PENNY KARYG “Let me explain the nose job procedure.” Deanna

The New CAT Definition:Brain Injury in Children

The New CAT Definition:Brain Injury in Children

PENNY KARYG

“Let me explain the nose job procedure.”

Deanna S. Gilbert, Thomson Rogers

Troy H. Lehman, Oatley Vigmond

Deanna S. Gilbert, Thomson Rogers

Troy H. Lehman, Oatley Vigmond

What is a Child?What is a Child?

What Are Key Times?What Are Key Times?

1) Hospitalization2) One Month3) Six Months4) Nine Months5) Two Years

Who Will Ensure CATConsidered at Each Interval?

Who Will Ensure CATConsidered at Each Interval?

Criterion #1:Hospitalization and Imaging

Criterion #1:Hospitalization and Imaging

Criterion No. 1:Hospitalization and Imaging


• “accepted for admission, on an in-patientbasis, to a public hospital named in aGuideline with positive findings on CT, MRIor any other medically recognized braindiagnostic technology indicatingintracranial pathology that is a result of theaccident, including, but not limited tointracranial contusions or hemmorrhages,diffuse axonal injury, cerebral edema,midline shift or pneumocephaly.”



• Three essential elements:

1) In-patient admission to public hospital;

2) Positive findings of intracranial pathology;

3) Findings must be from medically recognizedbrain diagnostic technique.

Criterion #2:Admission to PediatricRehabilitation Facility

Criterion #2:Admission to PediatricRehabilitation Facility

Criterion No. 2:Admission to Pediatric Rehab


• “accepted for admission, on an in-patientbasis, to a program of neurologicalrehabilitation facility that is a member ofthe Ontario Association of Children’sRehabilitation Services.”



• What is OACRS?



5 Concerns:

1.Discrimination re: remote areas

Criterion No. 2:Admission to Pediatric RehabCont. 5 Concerns:

2.Wait lists

3. Community-based rehab

4. In-patient admission requirements

5. “Program of neurological rehabilitation”

Criterion #3:Kings Outcome Scale

(1 to 5 months)


(1 to 5 months)

Criterion No. 3:KINGS Outcome Scale (1-5 months)


• Kings Outcome Scale for ChildhoodHead Injury (“KOSCHI”).

• Studies have found KOSCHI to be oflimited use in predicting long-termoutcome.

• No guidance on who will doassessments.



• KOSHCI rates impairment onfollowing scale:1) Death2) Vegetative3) Severe Disability4) Moderate Disability5) Good Recovery



• A child with a brain injury will becatastrophically impaired if, onemonth or more after the accident“his or her level of neurologicalfunction does not exceed category 2(vegetative) on the Kings OutcomeScale for Childhood Head Injury(“KOSCHI”).”



• Vegetative:

• “The child is breathingspontaneously and may havesleep/wake cycles. He may havenon-purposeful or reflex movementsof limbs or eyes. There is noevidence of ability to communicateverbally or non-verbally or torespond to commands”



Severe disability:

“The child is at least intermittently able tomove part of the body/eyes to command ormake purposeful spontaneous movements, forexample, confused child pulling at nasogastrictube, lashing out at carers, rolling over in bed.May be fully conscious and able tocommunicate but not yet able to carry out anyself care activities such as feeding.



• Very, very few children will be vegetative1-5 month after injury.

• Study of 218 significant TBI’s not one wasfound to be vegetative at time ofdischarge or follow up.


(6 or more months)


(6 or more months)

Criterion No. 4:KINGS Outcome Scale (6 + months)


• 6 months +

“level of neurological function doesnot exceed category 3 (Severe

Disability) on the KOSCHI.”



• Severe disability (A & B) = CAT

• B:Implies a continuing high level ofdependence, but the child can assistin daily activities, for example, canfeed self or walk with assistance orhelp to place items of clothing. Sucha child is fully conscious but may stillhave a degree of post-traumaticamnesia.



• Moderate Disability (A & B) not CAT

• A:The child is mostly independent butneeds a degree of supervision/actualhelp for physical or behaviouralproblems. Such a child has overtproblems; for example, 12 year oldwith moderate hemiplegia anddyspraxia insecure on stairs on needshelp with dressing.



• “High level of dependence” vs.“degree of supervision”

• Clinical judgement

• Pre-morbid problems

• Gaps in funding & ↓ limits

• Likelihood of meeting test

Criterion #5:Level of Function After 9

Months

Criterion #5:Level of Function After 9

Months

Criterion No. 5:Post 9 MonthsCriterion No. 5:Post 9 Months

• “Nine months or more after theaccident, the insured person’s levelof function remains seriouslyimpaired such that the insuredperson is not age appropriatelyindependent and requires in-personsupervision or assistance forphysical, cognitive or behaviouralimpairments for the majority of theinsured person’s waking day.”


• Government-made test

• Areas of ambiguity & debate:

– What constitutes “age appropriatelyindependent”? Who determines?

– What constitutes “in-personsupervision or assistance”

– What constitutes the “waking day”?


• Disagreements =

1) delays

2) gaps in funding

3) increased costs to all

Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts

Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts

• Advocacy starts from day 1

• Team needs a “game plan” for point-in-timeassessments

• WPI is still available [s. 3.1(6)]

• Multiple disputes over multiple times

• Ambiguities to be resolved in favour of child

Thank you

Questions?

Troy Lehman: [email protected]

Deanna S. Gilbert: [email protected]

Documents

The New CAT Definition: Brain Injury in Children · 2016-04-26 · The New CAT Definition: Brain Injury in Children PENNY KARYG “Let me explain the nose job procedure.” Deanna