Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2026

A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
10:31

A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion

Published on: September 25, 2014

14.1K

Head injury from falls in children younger than 6 years of age

P Burrows1, L Trefan1, R Houston2

  • 1Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, UK.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 23, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Falls from heights can cause serious head injuries (HI) in young children. Infants falling from arms or products, and falls from windows, pose the highest risk for skull fractures and intracranial injury (ICI).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Traumatology
  • Child Injury Prevention
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • The risk of serious head injury (HI) in young children following a fall is not well-defined.
  • Understanding the relationship between the height or object of a fall and the likelihood of intracranial injury (ICI) or skull fracture is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the object fallen from and the prevalence of intracranial injury (ICI) or skull fracture in children under 6 years old.
  • To quantify the risk of severe head trauma based on the circumstances of the fall.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted on children under 6 years old admitted to UK hospitals for head injuries resulting from falls.
  • Data analyzed included the object fallen from, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) or AVPU (alert, voice, pain, unresponsive) scores, and CT scan results.

Main Results:

  • Out of 1775 children, 19.3% had a CT scan, with 32% showing abnormalities. Skull fractures occurred in 16.9%, and ICI in 13.7%.
  • Falls from a person's arms, buildings (windows/attics), or infant/child products showed a significantly higher odds ratio for skull fracture or ICI compared to falls from standing height.
  • Even children with a GCS of 15/AVPU=alert had a 12% prevalence of ICI, indicating potential for serious injury even without initial neurological compromise.

Conclusions:

  • The majority of hospital-admitted head injuries from falls in this cohort were minor.
  • Infants falling from a carer's arms, or from infant products, windows, walls, or attics, face a heightened risk of ICI or skull fracture.
  • These findings provide valuable data for injury prevention efforts and for assessing the probability of serious injury when the fall circumstances are known.
Abstract

Keywords:
Accident & EmergencyEpidemiologyInjury Prevention

More Related Videos

Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury09:49

Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: January 20, 2023

3.9K
A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)07:01

A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)

Published on: February 7, 2025

963

Related Concept Videos

Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...
Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction01:28

Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction

DefinitionTraumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a disturbance of normal brain function induced by an external mechanical force, such as a direct blow to the head or a penetrating injury. It can affect both brain structure and function, producing a wide range of clinical outcomes. TBI is a heterogeneous condition, meaning its effects may differ based on the type, location, and severity of the injury.Basis of ClassificationTBI is classified based on severity, injury mechanism, or pathophysiology. In...
Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology01:14

Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology

Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...
Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction01:14

Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction

Intracranial hypertension is a sustained elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) above 22 mm Hg. In supine adults, normal ICP is ~7–15 mm Hg.The rigid, nonexpandable cranium contains three components—brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—that total ~1,700 mL in a typical adult: 1,400 mL brain (~80%), 150 mL blood (~10%), and 150 mL CSF (~10%). According to the Monro–Kellie doctrine, total intracranial volume is effectively fixed. When one component expands, CSF and venous blood...