Introduction - The objective of the Serac study was to describe long-term disabilities in severely traumatized children admitted to the intensive care unit following a traffic accident. Method - Severely traumatized children (Injury Severity Score, ISS = 16) treated in 2003 and 2004 in 12 French pediatric intensive care units were included in the study. A clinical and neuropsychological assessment using standardized and validated scales was conducted 6 and 12 months after the accident. Results - Of the 139 children included, 31 died. The median age was 9 years and the median ISS was 27. Among the 108 survivors, 89 and 88 were evaluated at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The most frequently reported somatic complaints were fatigue (70%), attention disorders (>60%), and behavioral disorders (60%). Depending on the type of disability assessed, 25 to 40% of the children had a disability. Most returned to school, but 20% had academic difficulties. Family consequences were common and long-lasting. Conclusion - The frequency of symptoms reported by parents contrasted with that of impairments or disabilities assessed by testing. These sequelae were linked to the severity of the traumatic brain injury and had a significant impact on the family. (R.A.)