ABSTRACT
Acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any injury occurring to the brain after birth and the immediate neonatal period. The term 'acquired' describes brain injury sustained after a period of normal development. ABI is a leading cause of disability in childhood. The majority of children who suffer ABI survive the initial injury or illness and have no subsequent reduction in life expectancy. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired brain injury that is caused by external forces – accidents or other injuries – and atraumatic or non-traumatic brain injury is caused by illness or infection. Collectively, significant numbers of non-traumatic brain injuries also add to the total number of children affected, although each individual illness or injury cause is not common. Improved emergency response systems and medical advances have greatly increased the survival rate of children who are injured.
