Subtle Motor Signs and Executive Functioning in Chronic Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Brief Report

BACKGROUND: Children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are reported to have persistent deficits in executive functioning and subtle motor functions. AIM: This study examined the relationship between subtle motor signs and executive functioning in children with TBI. METHODS: Eighteen children aged 13-18 years with mild to severe TBI at least one year before study participation and 16 age-matched typically-developing controls were examined using the Revised Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs (PANESS), a simplified Go/No-go task, portions of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Verbal Fluency and Trail Making tests, and a Wechsler Coding test. RESULTS: There were significant associations between PANESS scores and executive functioning measures in children with TBI but not in controls. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that assessment of subtle motor signs may provide broader information regarding functioning after paediatric TBI.