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Updated: Sep 22, 2025
Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: May 27, 2022
The association between hematologic parameters and intracranial injuries in pediatric patients with traumatic brain
Pinar Eser1, Seniha Corabay2, Ali Imran Ozmarasali1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey, Bursa.
Insights
Hematologic parameters can help predict abnormal head CT scans in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). These blood markers indicate injury severity, need for surgery, and patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Neuroimaging
- Hematology
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children requires accurate assessment of severity and prognosis.
- Cranial computerized tomography (CT) is crucial for diagnosing TBI, but identifying predictive markers is essential.
- Hematologic parameters offer a potentially accessible tool for evaluating TBI severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the association between hematologic parameters and abnormal cranial CT findings in pediatric TBI.
- To determine if blood markers can predict injury severity, need for neurosurgery, and clinical outcomes in children with TBI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 287 children with isolated TBI.
- Classification of patients into groups based on head CT findings: normal (NG), linear fracture (LFG), and intraparenchymal injury (IPG).
- Collection and comparison of demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, including various hematologic parameters.
Main Results:
- Elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio observed in LFG and IPG compared to NG.
- Lower lymphocyte-monocyte ratio and higher red cell distribution width-platelet ratio (RPR) associated with intraparenchymal injuries.
- Higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and RPR, along with lower platelet counts, were linked to patients requiring neurosurgery.
- Lower erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels correlated with severe TBI and unfavorable outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Hematologic parameters are valuable predictors of abnormal cranial CT findings in pediatric TBI.
- Blood markers can assist in assessing injury severity, surgical necessity, and clinical outcomes.
- Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, RPR, and red blood cell indices show significant associations with TBI characteristics and prognosis.
Objective:
Analyzing the association between hematologic parameters and abnormal cranial computerized tomography (CT) findings after head trauma.
Material And Methods:
A total of 287 children with isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI) were divided into the 'normal' (NG), 'linear fracture' (LFG) and 'intraparenchymal injury' groups (IPG) based on head CT findings. Demographical/clinical data and laboratory results were obtained from medical records.
Results:
The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was markedly higher in the LFG (p = 0.010 and p = 0.016, respectively) and IPG (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared with NG. Lower lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (p = 0.044) and higher red cell distribution width-platelet ratio (RPR) (p = 0.030) were associated with intraparenchymal injuries. Patients requiring neurosurgical intervention had higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.026) and RPR values (p = 0.031) and lower platelet counts (p = 0.035). Lower levels of erythrocytes (p = 0.005), hemoglobin (p = 0.003) and hematocrit (p = 0.002) were associated with severe TBI and unfavorable outcome (p = 0.012, p = 0.004 and p = 0.006, respectively).
Conclusions:
Hematologic parameters are useful in predicting the presence of abnormal cranial CT findings in children with TBI in association with injury severity; surgery need and clinical outcome.
