# Visual evoked potential evaluation following brain injury in school-aged children

## TL;DR

This study establishes reference values for visual evoked potentials in children with brain injuries to detect optic pathway damage early.

## Contribution

The paper provides new reference values for VEP in children post-brain injury and highlights early detection of optic pathway damage.

## Key findings

- Prolongation of N2 and P waves was observed in over 50% of patients.
- Prechiasmatic alterations were predominantly bilateral in optic pathways.
- Early VEP detection may allow for timely treatment to prevent optic atrophy.

## Abstract

Aim: The research aimed to establish reference values of visual evoked potentials among school-aged children after brain injury.

Methods: Eighteen patients with persisting visual symptoms after brain injury have been examined. A pattern-VEP test has been used during the examination.

Results: The prolongation of the N2 wave in 55,6%-66,6%, P wave in 55,7%-66,7%, and N3 wave in 16,7%-22,2% was determined in the research group. Likewise, the decrease in the amplitude of the P wave was determined in the case of 16,7%-33,3%. According to the topography, we concluded that the prechiasmatic alteration was predominantly determined as bilateral in the optic pathways, with emphasis equally on the right and left.

Conclusions: VEP evaluation remains one of the most credible methods of examination. In the case of moderate or severe traumatic optic neuropathy, it allows the detection of damage to the optic pathways before the appearance of organic changes that are often irreversible. The possibility of early detection of such modifications could justify the initiation of a dosed stimulatory treatment, to avoid damage to the optic pathways that would induce secondary optic atrophy.

Abbreviations: VEP = visual evoked potentials, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging