Use of the King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury in the evaluation of outcome in childhood traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective: To examine the inter-rater reliability of The King's Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury (KOSCHI) with clinicians of varying experience in paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI); and to examine change in outcome during long-term follow-up of children following traumatic brain injury (TBI) using KOSCHI.Method: Retrospective assessment of detailed clinic reports of 97 children followed-up by a tertiary specialist paediatric brain injury service. Investigators were blinded to each other's scores.Results: Inter-rater reliability was substantial (weighted kappa 0.71) and similar for investigators of varying experience. KOSCHI outcome was strongly associated with markers of injury severity (p = 0.028). In longitudinal follow-up, KOSCHI score worsened in 7 (23%) children who were injured under 8 years but in no older children (p = 0.02).Conclusion: KOSCHI has high inter-rater reliability for investigators of different experience. Long-term KOSCHI outcome is associated with injury severity. Some young children may develop worse disability over time.