Clinical Features and Outcomes of Surgically Treated Pediatric Head Injuries

Mun, Dong Sup; Choi, Jung Hoon; Lee, Sang Bong; Lee, In Chang; Bae, Sang Do

Abstract

As the incidence of victims of traumatic craniocerebral injury in children has increased in modern times, we retrospectively analyzed 103 cases of surgically treated craniocerebral injuries among patients under the age of 15 who were admitted from January 1991 to December 1994. We classified the materials, i.e. 1) cause and incidence of craniocerebral injury, 2) clinical symptoms, 3) diagnosis and operation, 4) outcome and complication, and 5) period of hospitalization. The results were as follows: 1) The male to female ratio was 1.9:1(male patients 68, female patients 35). 2) The incidence peaked at the age of 6 and was mostly distributed from the age of 6 to 10. 3) As for time distribution most of the accidents occurred between 3 and 6 in the afternoon. 4) The main cause of craniocerebral injuries was attributed to traffic accidents (54 cases, 52.4%) and the second most common cause was falls from heights(30 cases, 29.1%). 5) In 85 cases, the Glasgow coma scale 13-15 before operation was observed. 6) Depression fractures were found to be the most common lesion in our cases. 7) In 48 cases(46.6%) a craniotomy was the operative procedure performed and in 40 cases(38.8%) an elevation of the depressed bone was performed. 8) In 93 cases, the Glasgow outcome scale 4-5 after operation was observed. 9) The many sequelae of operation were neurological deficit, cognitive impairent, and post-traumtic seizure. 10) The average period of hospitalization was 18.7 days(s.d=18.1). The cause and incidence of surgically treated pediatric head injuries were similar to those of total pediatric head injuries. A high GCS score at admission predicts a good outcome and fewer sequelae. However, papillary abnormalities and a neurological deficit at admission were poor prognostic factors. This study confirms that pediatric head injuries treated surgically provide better results than in adults.