Accidental head injuries in children : experience of Suez canal teaching hospital

Abstract EN

Background: Accidental head injuries in children represent a significant public health problem.

However, there is a paucity of data regarding rates, modes and age-related risks of these injuries especially in developing countries.

Aim: To define the etiology, clinical aspects, interventions, and the clinical outcome of accidental head injuries in children presented to Suez Canal teaching hospital.

Patients and Methods: Prospective analysis was conducted on children admitted to emergency department/Suez Canal teaching hospital for treatment of accidental head injuries.

Data included patient`s demographics, etiology & mechanism of injury, severity of injury using pediatric Glasgow coma scale, clinical aspects, treatment received, and the final functional outcome using King’s Outcome Scale for Childhood Head Injury.

Results: Two hundred and six injured children aged 18 years or less were admitted to hospital in the period from January 2014 to June 2015.

Male/Female ratio was 1.3/1.

Falls were the commonest mode of injury (61%), followed by Road traffic accidents (18%), and home injuries (14%).

Most injuries were of mild severity (83%).

CT brain revealed skull fracture in 11%, and intracranial bleeds in 7%.

Fourteen patients were operated upon.

The mean length of hospital stay was 4.3 days.

Final assessment revealed good recovery in 89% of children, moderate to severe disability in 8.5%, and a mortality rate of 2.4%.

Conclusion: Children aged 2-5 years were more frequently present with an accidental head injury.

Most injuries were mild, and falls were the commonest mode of injury.

Most children required simple management without need for surgical intervention.

Good recovery was the rule in most children with low disability and mortality rates.