Pediatric Acquired Brain Injuries: A Scoping Review of Neuromotor Interventions in Acute Care.

AIMS: Acute care is essential for pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI), but finding precise guidelines for implementing and characterizing early neuromotor interventions is challenging. This scoping review explored the modalities and characteristics of neuromotor interventions, aligned with International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and FITT (frequency, intensity, time, and type) criteria, for pediatric populations with ABI in acute care settings.

METHODS

Following PRISMA-ScR framework, searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and PEDro for English studies, limited to primary sources of evidence, published between 2000 and October 2025. Inclusion criteria focused on children aged one month to 18 years with ABI in acute care settings. Two reviewers screened and synthesized data on study characteristics, demographic data, clinical variables and types/characteristics of neuromotor interventions.

RESULTS

Five of 3,497 screened articles were included. Primary interventions targeted mobilization/visual training (body structures and functions) and balance/gait training (activities). While "frequency" and "type" were consistently reported, "time" and "intensity" were frequently omitted. Outcomes were mixed for traumatic injuries but positive for inflammatory pathologies.

CONCLUSIONS

Early neuromotor intervention for pediatric ABI is feasible and safe, but methodological heterogeneity and inconsistent parameter reporting underscore the need for standardized protocols and a core outcome set.