Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39320989›Full record

ArticleNeuro-oncology2025

The Pediatric Physiatric Posterior Fossa Symptoms scale: Impairments and outcome in pediatric inpatient rehabilitation for posterior fossa brain tumors.

Jennifer Wu, Brian D Wishart, Stephanie E Cohen, Patricia Orme, Susan S Quinn, Donna Nimec

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neuro-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Functional Trajectory of Childhood Stroke in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jennifer WuDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8183-1946
Brian D WishartDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Stephanie E CohenDepartment of Pediatrics, Emerson Hospital, Concord, Massachusetts, USA.
Patricia OrmeDivision of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Susan S QuinnDivision of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Donna NimecDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Funding

Modulating Exercise Dosage to Improve Concussion Rehabilitation: A Randomized Clinical TrialR01HD108133 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · PI David R. Howell · 2022 to 2026
$3.3M
Dr. Linda Michaud Pediatric Rehabilitation Research FundHunter's HopeMucolipidosis Type IV FoundationNational Institute of Child Health and Human Development 5R01HD108133-02NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD108133Spaulding Research Institute
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClinical recognition of the postoperative neurologic sequelae of posterior fossa tumors is inconsistent. This study aimed to characterize functional impairments and recovery trajectories in pediatric patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation following surgical resection of posterior fossa brain tumors. This study also introduces the Pediatric Physiatric Posterior Fossa Symptom scale (3PFSs) for serial assessment of postoperative symptoms in pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study included 49 patients aged 1.1 to 19.9 years admitted to a pediatric unit of a free-standing rehabilitation hospital following resection of a posterior fossa brain tumor. Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) and 3PFSs scores at admission and discharge were the primary outcome measures.

resultsAcross the group, WeeFIM score improved from 51.5 ± 23.5 points at admission to 74.2 ± 28.2 points at discharge (t = 4.34, P < .001). The 3PFSs score also showed improvement from 10 [Interquartile range (IQR) = 9-12] points at admission to 8 [7-10] points at discharge (t = 9.3, P < .0001). While change in both the WeeFIM and 3PFSs captured statistically significant improvement in function, there was low interrating correlation (P > .7). In addition, mortality was correlated with a higher discharge 3PFSs score (P = .007) but not discharge WeeFIM score.

conclusionsIn pediatric patients with postoperative neurologic sequelae due to posterior fossa brain tumors, inpatient rehabilitation resulted in global and domain-specific functional improvements. This initial application of the 3PFSs demonstrates potential applicability for stratifying patients to appropriate levels of rehabilitation, capturing functionally relevant response to rehabilitation treatment, and prognosticating long-term outcomes. These initial results are promising but require additional validation in a larger cohort.

Indexed as

Infratentorial NeoplasmsNeurosurgical ProceduresPostoperative ComplicationsAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansInfantInpatientsMalePrognosisRetrospective StudiesYoung Adultacute inpatient rehabilitationbrain tumorcerebellar mutismpediatricsposterior fossa syndrome

Identifiers

PMID39320989
PMCPMC11812026

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.