Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
A Pediatric Concussion Model in Mice: Closed Head Injury with Long-Term Disorders (CHILD)
Published on: February 7, 2025
Paediatric traumatic brain injury: Presentation, prognostic indicators and Outcome analysis from a tertiary care
Badar Ujjan1, Muhammad Waqas1, Muhammad Babar Khan1
1Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Insights
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health issue. Lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores and specific brain injuries significantly increase mortality risk in children with TBI.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Neurocritical Care
- Global Child Health
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally.
- Effective management and identification of prognostic factors in pediatric TBI are crucial, especially in resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the clinical presentation, management strategies, patient outcomes, and prognostic indicators.
- To analyze data from a large cohort of pediatric TBI patients treated at a tertiary care center in a developing country.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data collection of pediatric TBI patients admitted between July 2010 and December 2013.
- Dichotomization of 291 patients into survivors and non-survivors for comparative analysis.
- Evaluation of variables including age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and imaging findings (Marshall Score, cisterns, SAH, IVH).
Main Results:
- Key prognostic indicators for mortality included younger age, lower post-resuscitation GCS score, and lower RTS.
- Radiological findings such as absent cisterns, associated subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) were linked to increased mortality.
- A lower Marshall Score was also associated with a higher risk of death.
Conclusions:
- Clinical presentation and neuroimaging findings are critical in predicting outcomes for pediatric TBI patients.
- Early identification of prognostic factors can guide management and improve survival rates in pediatric TBI cases.
- This study highlights the importance of comprehensive assessment and management in developing countries.
Abstract:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. This study was conducted to report the presentation, management, outcomes and prognostic indicators in a large series of patients from a tertiary care centre in a developing country. It is a review of prospectively collected data of paediatric patients with TBI admitted at our centre between July 2010 and December 2013. A total of 291 patients with a mean age of 7.2±5.0 years were dichotomised into survivors and non-survivors, and variables were compared between the two groups. The mean post-resuscitation Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score was 11.6±3.9, mean Marshall Score was 2.26±0.95 and the mean revised trauma score at presentation was 10.58±1.7. Younger age, lower GCS score after resuscitation, lower revised trauma score, absent cisterns on imaging, associated subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and a lower Marshall score were associated with higher mortality.
