Pediatric update #7. The orthopaedic manifestations of head injury in children

The incidence of significant head injury has been estimated at 220/100,000 children. Over 90% of these will recover with little residual disability. The purpose of this study is to re-examine the small but significant percentage of head injured children with permanent total body involvement to identify patterns of deformity and temporal sequences and to develop preventive treatment regimens. Sixteen head injured children with residual spastic quadriplegia were examined. All exhibited musculoskeletal abnormalities. Hip adduction contractures were most common leading to hip subluxation in eight children, followed by pes equinus, scoliosis, pelvic obliquity, and knee flexion contracture. The average time to onset of permanent foot deformity was 11 months after head injury, for scoliosis an average of 22 months postinjury, and for hip subluxation an average of 31 months postinjury. Hamstring contractures occurred later, at an average of 37 months, but caused the most interference with good seating. The physical problems of the head injured child have some similarities to those of the child with cerebral palsy, but with distinct differences. An aggressive surgical approach to prevention and treatment of fixed deformity in these children is recommended at an early stage with postoperative orthotic management and stable seating in abduction.