Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
05:01
Murine Model of Controlled Cortical Impact for the Induction of Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 16, 2019
10.9K
Paediatric Head Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury
E Ryan1,2, T Bolger1, M J Barrett3,4,5
1Paediatrics, Children's Hospital Ireland (CHI) at Tallaght, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin.
Irish Medical Journal
|August 21, 2020
Summary
Head injuries account for 5.9% of paediatric emergency department visits, with falls being the most common cause. Many young children present with head injuries, requiring significant medical attention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Head injuries are a common reason for pediatric emergency department (PED) visits.
- Understanding the epidemiology and characteristics of pediatric head injuries is crucial for resource allocation and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of head injuries presenting to national PEDs.
- To characterize these presentations by demographics, triage category, disposition, neuroimaging use, and re-attendance rates.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of patient presentations with head injury diagnoses from 2014-2015 across all national PEDs.
- Inclusion criteria: head injury, intracranial bleed, skull fracture, and re-attendances within 28 days.
- Data collected included demographics, triage score, imaging rates, admissions, injury mechanisms, and re-attendance rates.
Main Results:
- Head injury was diagnosed in 5.9% (13,392/224,860) of pediatric presentations, with a median age of 3.9 years.
- Falls were the predominant mechanism (12.2% attributed to sports).
- 10.8% were admitted/transferred, and 4.3% underwent neuroimaging, with observational management often favored.
Conclusions:
- Approximately 1 in 20 children presenting to PEDs have a head injury, predominantly affecting preschool-aged children.
- A significant proportion of head injuries present with concerning symptoms, necessitating admission, transfer, imaging, or re-attendance.
- The data suggest a preference for observational management over routine neuroimaging in pediatric head injury cases.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Traumatic 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...
01:29Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology
Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins with...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...