J Korean Med Sci.  2012 Apr;27(4):437-442. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.4.437.

Epidemiology of Traumatic Head Injury in Korean Children

• Kim HB
• Kim DK
• Kwak YH
• Shin SD
• Song KJ
• Lee SC
• Park JO
• Jang HY
• Kim SC

• KMID: 2157906
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.4.437

Abstract

The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology of traumatic head injury (THI) among Korean children. A prospective, in-depth trauma survey was conducted in five teaching hospitals. Data from all of the children who attended the emergency department (ED) were analyzed. From June 2008 to May 2009, 2,856 children with THI visited the 5 EDs. The average age of the subjects was 5.6 (SD +/- 4.9) yr old, and 1,585 (55.5%) were 0-4 yr old. The male-to-female ratio was 2.3 to 1 (1,979 vs 877). Consciousness levels of the subjects were classified according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and 99.1%, 0.6%, and 0.4% were determined as mild, moderate, or severe injury, respectively, according to the GCS categorization. Most injuries occurred at home (51.3%), and the most common mechanism of injury was collision (43.2%). With regard to outcome, 2,682 (93.9%) patients were sent home, and 35 (1.2%) were transferred to another hospital. A total of 133 (4.7%) patients were hospitalized, and 38 (1.3%) underwent surgery. The incidence and characteristics of pediatric THI in Korea are affected by sex, location and injury mechanism.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Head Trauma; Pediatrics

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Craniocerebral Trauma/*epidemiology/radiography
Female
Glasgow Coma Scale
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Prospective Studies
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Profile of study population.

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  Fig. 2 Age bracket and gender breakdown of head injury.

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  Fig. 3 Placement of head injury.

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  Fig. 4 Mechanism of head injury.

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