Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)
Published on: February 7, 2025
Isolated traumatic head injury in children: Analysis of 276 observations
Mabrouk Bahloul1, Hedi Chelly, Anis Chaari
1Medical Intensive Care Unit, CHU H Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisia.
Insights
Pediatric traumatic brain injury mortality is predicted by factors like high PRISM scores and specific brain injuries. Road traffic accidents are a major cause in Tunisia, highlighting the need for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Neurotrauma research
- Public health and injury prevention
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of mortality in children.
- Understanding predictive factors for mortality in pediatric TBI is crucial for improving outcomes.
- Isolated TBI in children presents unique challenges in intensive care management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify demographic, clinical, radiological, and biochemical predictors of mortality in children with isolated traumatic brain injury.
- To analyze factors influencing short-term prognosis in pediatric TBI patients.
- To inform preventive strategies for head injuries in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 276 children with isolated TBI admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU).
- Data collection included demographic, clinical, biochemical, and radiological parameters on admission and during ICU stay.
- Multivariate analysis was employed to determine factors associated with mortality.
Main Results:
- The study included 276 children (71% boys, mean age 6.7 years); road traffic accidents were the primary cause (58.3%).
- Mortality rate was 17.4% (48 children).
- Predictors of poor prognosis included Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) > 24, neurovegetative disorder, meningeal hemorrhage, and Marshall tomographic grading VI.
Conclusions:
- Head injury, often from road traffic accidents, is a common reason for hospital admission in Tunisia.
- Prognosis in pediatric TBI is influenced by a combination of factors.
- The findings underscore the importance of implementing preventive measures to reduce the incidence and severity of pediatric head injuries.
Background:
To determine predictive factors of mortality among children after isolated traumatic brain injury.
Materials And Methods:
In this retrospective study, we included all consecutive children with isolated traumatic brain injury admitted to the 22-bed intensive care unit (ICU) of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia). Basic demographic, clinical, biochemical, and radiological data were recorded on admission and during ICU stay.
Results:
There were 276 patients with 196 boys (71%) and 80 girls, with a mean age of 6.7 ± 3.8 years. The main cause of trauma was road traffic accident (58.3%). Mean Glasgow Coma Scale score was 8 ± 2, Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 23.3 ± 5.9, Mean Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) was 4.8 ± 2.3, and Mean Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) was 10.8 ± 8. A total of 259 children required mechanical ventilation. Forty-eight children (17.4%) died. Multivariate analysis showed that factors associated with a poor prognosis were PRISM > 24 (OR: 10.98), neurovegetative disorder (OR: 7.1), meningeal hemorrhage (OR: 2.74), and lesion type VI according to Marshall tomographic grading (OR: 13.26).
Conclusion:
In Tunisia, head injury is a frequent cause of hospital admission and is most often due to road traffic injuries. Short-term prognosis is influenced by demographic, clinical, radiological, and biochemical factors. The need to put preventive measures in place is underscored.
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
07:02An Investigation of the Effects of Sports-related Concussion in Youth Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Head Impact Telemetry System
Published on: January 12, 2011
