Head Trauma-Related Deaths Among Preschool Children in Istanbul, Turkey
Fatih Yagmur1, Safa Celik, Zeynep Yener
1From the *Istanbul Medeniyet University Medical Faculty, Istanbul; †Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul; and ‡Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Denizli, Turkey.
Insights
Falls from heights are the leading cause of fatal head trauma in young children in Istanbul. Domestic accidents and traffic incidents also contribute significantly to these tragic deaths, highlighting the need for parental education and safety measures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Forensic Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Head trauma is a major cause of mortality in children under five.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors for head trauma-related deaths in children younger than 5 years in Istanbul, Turkey.
- To analyze injury mechanisms and outcomes in fatal pediatric head trauma cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of autopsy records from the Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul (2008-2012).
- Inclusion of 203 cases of head trauma-related deaths in preschool children.
- Data collection on demographics, injury mechanisms, and autopsy findings.
Main Results:
- Males constituted 57.6% of cases; the 12-36 month age group was most affected (52.70%).
- The leading causes of injury were "fall from a height" (47.78%), followed by "traffic accidents" (33%).
- Skull fractures occurred in 86.69% of cases, often accompanied by other skeletal fractures; retinal hemorrhage was noted in 2 of 5 suspected abuse cases.
Conclusions:
- Falls from heights are the primary cause of fatal head trauma in young children in Istanbul.
- Domestic accidents and traffic accidents are significant contributors to childhood mortality from head trauma.
- Parental education on child supervision and safety measures is vital for injury prevention, as severe injuries can result even from short falls.
Objective:
Head trauma takes place among the leading causes of mortality in children. This study aimed to determine the risk factors of head trauma-related deaths among children younger than 5 years in Istanbul, Turkey.
Material And Methods:
This study was conducted using the records of the Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul. The records of cases autopsied between 2008 and 2012 were retrospectively investigated. Of all preschool children deaths, 203 head trauma-related deaths were included in the study.
Results:
Of all, 117 (57.6%) were males and 86 (42.4%) were females. Most cases (107, 52.70%) were between the ages of 12 and 36 months. The most common mechanism of injury was "fall from a height" with 97 cases (47.78%), followed by "traffic accidents" (67, 33%) and "hit by falling objects" (19, 9.35%). Skull fracture was detected in 176 cases (86.69%), of which 81 (46.02%) were characterized with linear fracture. Furthermore, skull fracture was accompanied by 1 or more skeletal bone fracture in 64 cases. Retinal hemorrhage was investigated in 5 cases of suspected physical abuse and only 2 of them showed retinal hemorrhage findings.
Conclusions:
Obtained findings revealed that fall from a height was the leading cause of death among unnatural deaths in children younger than 5 years. Domestic accident was found to be a significant risk factor in childhood deaths. Traffic fatalities were among leading causes of death in childhood in our country, likewise in all around the world. Children were found to be more vulnerable to traumas when they start to move around with incomplete motor skills. Therefore, education of parents in terms of child supervision and installing safety precautions toward preschool children will be helpful in preventing such injuries. On the contrary to some findings in the literature, more severe lesions were also prominent even in case of short-range falls from a height.
