Correlation between early computed tomography findings and neurological outcome in pediatric traumatic brain injury...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Emergency medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of death and disability in children.
• Head computed tomography (CT) is vital for early assessment and management of pediatric TBI.
• Understanding the correlation between CT findings and neurological outcomes is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between cranial CT findings and early/late neurological outcomes in pediatric TBI patients.
• To identify specific CT indicators associated with severe TBI, sequelae, and mortality.
• To evaluate the utility of cranial CT in managing pediatric TBI.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 129 pediatric TBI patients admitted to the PICU between 2014-2020.
• Collection of sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, and cranial CT findings.
• Categorization of patients based on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and analysis of trauma types.

Main Results:

• The most common causes of TBI were falls (39.5%) and in-vehicle traffic accidents (27.1%).
• Intracranial pathology was present in 37.3% of patients, with hemorrhage being the most frequent finding.
• Severe TBI and mortality were higher in traffic accident cases (p=0.032 and p=0.017, respectively), with an overall mortality rate of 10.1%.

Conclusions:

• Cranial CT is an essential initial imaging modality for pediatric TBI patients with neurological symptoms.
• A GCS score ≤ 8, multiple hemorrhages, diffuse cerebral edema, and intraventricular bleeding are significant predictors of adverse outcomes and mortality.
• Early identification of these CT findings can guide timely interventions and improve prognoses in pediatric TBI.