Evaluation of pediatric head traumas in preschool age period

Abstract

Objectives: Head injuries compose an important part of childhood traumas. Traumatic head injuries in this age group are still important despite all efforts. Aim of this study was to determine causes, results, prevalence and other properties of head injury patients in preschool period in our region.
Materials and Methods: This study was performed retrospectively in preschool age trauma patients presented to Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Emergency Department between the dates of 1 January 2004 and 30 June 2004. From the patient files of head injury patients; demographic features, mechanism of trauma, clinical status and duration of treatment were evaluated.
Results: Eighty-five cases were detected in preschool age group (0-6 years). Fifty-three of the cases (62.3%) were male. The most common mechanism of actions were falls (n=52, 61%) and traffic accidents out of vehicle (n=13, 15.2%). Seventy of the cases (82.3%) were mild head injury, 10 (11.8%) were moderate and 5 (5.9%) were severe. Twelve cases (14.1%) also had concomitant trauma of other systems. Brain surgeons consultated 49 cases (57.6%). Fifty-three of the cases (62.3%) were discharged after emergency department follow-up. The most common hospitalization was made to neurochirurgia department (n=25, 29.4%). The mean follow-up period in the emergency department was 6.7±5.43 hours. Mortality was seen in 4 cases (4.4%). Mechanism of injury in all of these cases was out of vehicle traffic accident.
Conclusion: In the preschool childhood, the most common cause of traumas was falls. Most of these cases can be treated and followed-up in the emergency department and then discharged. But, the most common mechanism of trauma causing death is out of vehicle traffic accidents. These traumas can be decreased by preventive measures.