Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)
Published on: February 7, 2025
Traumatic head injury in infants and toddlers
M C Myhre1, J B Grøgaard, G A Dyb
1Department of Paediatric Intensive Care, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. mimy@uus.no
Insights
Inflicted traumatic head injuries in young children often involve subdural hemorrhages without skull fractures and are associated with seizures. Accidental injuries were less likely to present with these specific characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Neurology
- Forensic Medicine
Background:
- Traumatic head injuries are a significant concern in young children.
- Distinguishing between inflicted and accidental trauma is crucial for appropriate medical and legal management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize young children with traumatic head injuries.
- To identify injury patterns indicative of inflicted trauma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 91 children under 3 years with traumatic head injury.
- Classification of injuries into skull fractures, epidural hemorrhage (EDH), subdural hemorrhage (SDH), and parenchymal brain injury.
- Categorization of cases as inflicted, accidental, or indeterminate.
Main Results:
- Subdural hemorrhages were significantly more likely to be classified as inflicted (63%) compared to other injury types.
- Inflicted injuries were associated with subdural hemorrhage without skull fracture (OR=6.9) and seizures (OR=9.5).
- Epidural hemorrhages and isolated skull fractures were not classified as inflicted.
Conclusions:
- Inflicted and accidental head injuries in young children present with distinct characteristics and injury types.
- Subdural hemorrhages are a key indicator of inflicted trauma in this age group.
- Seizures are a notable presenting symptom of inflicted head injuries.
Aim:
To describe the presenting characteristics, type of injury and hospital course in young children with traumatic head injury, and to identify characteristics indicating that the trauma was inflicted.
Methods:
A retrospective medical record review of 91 children less than 3 years of age who were admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital in Norway from 1995 through 2005 with a traumatic head injury. Patients were identified by diagnostic codes, and categorized by type of injury as skull fractures (n = 39), epidural haemorrhage (EDH) (n = 12), subdural haemorrhage (n = 27) and parenchymal brain injury (n = 13). Further the cases were classified as inflicted injury (n = 17), accident (n = 35) or indeterminate (n = 39).
Results:
The mechanism of injury was similar for EDHs and isolated skull fractures, and none were classified as inflicted. Sixty-three percent of the cases with subdural haematoma were classified as inflicted. When compared to the accident group, children in the inflicted group more frequently had subdural haemorrhage without a skull fracture (OR = 6.9, CI = 1.7-28.2), and seizures (OR = 9.5, CI = 2.1-43.3).
Conclusions:
Inflicted and accidental head injuries differed in presenting characteristics and injury type. Nearly two-third of the subdural haemorrhages were classified as inflicted, but none of the epidural EDHs or skull fractures. Inflicted injuries tended to present with seizures.
More Related Videos
09:49Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: January 20, 2023
08:27Development of an Uncomplicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Model Modified by Weight-Drop Method and Evidenced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: April 11, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:28Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
01:29Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology