RECRUITING

Ketogenic Diet Following Moderate to Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Description

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of using the ketogenic diet (KD) in children who sustained moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The secondary objective is a preliminary evaluation of the outcomes of children who have had the standard of care plus the KD, compared to those with standard of care alone. Outcome measures for the secondary objective will include: need for ventriculoperitoneal shunt, duration of unconsciousness, need for any type of craniotomy, duration of post-traumatic amnesia, acute hospitalization length of stay, and cognitive and motor function at 12 months after injury. If this study demonstrates feasibility and safety, the information related to outcomes will be used to inform the planning of a future, larger, randomized study of the efficacy of the KD in children and adolescents with TBI. Specifically, this information will be used to assist with sample size calculations for this future study.

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of using the ketogenic diet (KD) in children who sustained moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The secondary objective is a preliminary evaluation of the outcomes of children who have had the standard of care plus the KD, compared to those with standard of care alone. Outcome measures for the secondary objective will include: need for ventriculoperitoneal shunt, duration of unconsciousness, need for any type of craniotomy, duration of post-traumatic amnesia, acute hospitalization length of stay, and cognitive and motor function at 12 months after injury. If this study demonstrates feasibility and safety, the information related to outcomes will be used to inform the planning of a future, larger, randomized study of the efficacy of the KD in children and adolescents with TBI. Specifically, this information will be used to assist with sample size calculations for this future study.

Ketogenic Diet Following Moderate to Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study

Ketogenic Diet Following Moderate to Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Condition
Traumatic Brain Injury
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Minneapolis

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55101

Minneapolis

Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55404

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Age limits met at the time of injury and admission
  • * Participants with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury defined as a Glasgow Coma Scale Score of 3-12 (lowest score in the first 24 hours after injury). Individuals requiring craniotomy and/or evacuation of intracranial hemorrhage may be included.
  • * Currently on an oral diet at time of screening or currently on IV-only and in opinion of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit intensivist will be transitioning to an oral diet, not tube-feeding
  • * Anoxia/ischemia as a significant portion of injury, including near-drowning
  • * Non-accidental traumatic brain injury (i.e., assault, abuse)
  • * Penetrating injury including gunshot wounds
  • * Pregnancy
  • * Any condition that in the opinion of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit or neurosurgery medical staff warrants exclusion from the study

Ages Eligible for Study

2 Years to 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare,

Linda Krach, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Angela Sinner, DO, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Study Record Dates

2025-09