Head and Spinal Injuries in Pediatrics: Descriptive Study over 10 Years in a Tertiary Hospital
Liqaa Raffee1, Dania Al Miqdad2, Khaled Alawneh3
1Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JOR.
Cureus
|December 31, 2024
Summary
Optimal management of pediatric head and spinal traumas is crucial for reducing complications. This study analyzed 303 children, finding that prompt diagnosis and treatment significantly improve outcomes and survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric emergency medicine
- Trauma surgery
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Pediatric head and spinal traumas pose significant clinical challenges.
- Effective management is vital to prevent severe consequences and enhance patient outcomes.
- Falls and motor vehicle collisions are primary causes of these injuries in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the characteristics, management, and outcomes of pediatric head and spinal trauma.
- To identify common injury mechanisms, clinical presentations, and treatment modalities.
- To assess the effectiveness of current management strategies in improving patient recovery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 303 pediatric patients (<18 years) with traumatic head or spinal injuries.
- Data collection encompassed medical history, demographics, trauma mechanisms, clinical findings, and treatments.
- Severity assessment utilized the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
Main Results:
- Male patients predominated (70.6%). Road traffic accidents (48.5%) and falls (45.9%) were leading causes of blunt trauma.
- Head injuries were most common (83.5%), with observation as the primary treatment (70.3%). Mean GCS was 10.7.
- Most patients (89.8%) improved, with a mean hospital stay of 9.02 days. Spinal trauma cases (14) showed high survival (92.9%) with conservative management.
Conclusions:
- Prompt diagnosis and management are critical for reducing mortality and morbidity in pediatric head and spinal injuries.
- Accurate evaluation of injury characteristics is essential for effective treatment planning.
- Further research is needed to explore factors influencing outcomes, despite limitations in spinal injury case numbers.
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