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Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 5, 2014
Precocious puberty in children after traumatic brain injury
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.
Brain Injury
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Severe head trauma in children can cause true precocious puberty, a condition of early pubertal development. Treatment with long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists can reverse these effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- True precocious puberty is often linked to central nervous system (CNS) issues.
- It is an uncommon outcome of severe childhood head injuries.
Observation:
- Two young girls, aged 3 and 5, developed early pubertal signs after head trauma.
- Symptoms included breast development, pubic hair, and vaginal discharge.
Findings:
- Hormone tests and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) response confirmed central precocious puberty.
- This condition results from CNS disruption.
Implications:
- Potential long-term effects include rapid skeletal growth and advanced bone age, leading to short stature.
- Long-acting LHRH agonists offer effective, reversible treatment via chemical castration.
