Tests & Measures: A Resource for Pediatric Physical Therapy Practitioners

Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure (PSOM)

The above information was reviewed and is all up-to-date.

 

Beslow LA, Licht DJ, Smith SE, Storm PB, Heuer GG, Zimmerman RA, Feiler AM, Kasner SE, Ichord RN, Jordan LC. Predictors of outcome in childhood intracerebral hemorrhage: a prospective consecutive cohort study. Stroke. 2010 Feb; 41(2):313.

 

This study looked at the relationship between hemorrhage volume, altered mental status (AMS) and outcome at short-term follow up in children with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The follow-up time on average was 3.5 months. Participant population consisted of twenty-two children, ages 1 -18 years old, with spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage; qualifying participants were identified through a tertiary care children’s hospital stroke registry. Children with any other form of stroke, with a tumor, or with head trauma were not included. For the 22 participants, hospitalization records were obtained and assessed to determine altered mental status (Glasgow Coma Scale) and ICH volume in comparison to total brain volume (TBV); a follow-up assessment including the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure (PSOM) and King’s Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury (KOSCHI) were performed on each participant.

The researchers found that at the follow-up 12 of the 22 participants presented with clinically significant disability, quantified by a PSOM scored > 1 and a KOSCHI scored < 4b. Researchers also found that in children with supratentorial ICH, large ICH volume was associated with clinically significant disability; children with ICH volumes > 2% of TBV had worse outcomes compared to children with volumes < 2% TBV. For AMS, the researchers found an association between low Glasgow Coma Scale scores and clinically significant disability. AMS was also found to be associated with increased ICH volume. This study has several limitations, including the small n, lack of identical information provided for each child, varying follow up times, and various presentations from each child. Due to the wide range of assessment topics that the PSOM covers, it was an efficient outcome measure for this patient population.