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Household head injuries in infants presenting to a tertiary pediatric emergency: A retrospective study
Mohammed Almasoud1, Bader Alabdulkarim2, Muneer Almutairi3
1Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Household falls are the leading cause of head injuries in infants and young children. Understanding injury patterns is key to preventing serious harm and improving outcomes in pediatric head trauma cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Infant head injuries present a significant public health concern due to high incidence and potential for severe morbidity.
- Understanding injury patterns, mechanisms, and outcomes is critical for effective prevention and management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of domestic head trauma in pediatric patients under 2 years old.
- To analyze demographic features associated with head injuries in this age group.
- To evaluate the outcomes of pediatric head trauma at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted.
- Data were collected from pediatric patients under 2 years old presenting with domestic head trauma between June 2018 and June 2022.
- Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine associations between age, injury mechanisms, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- 133 patients (45.1% infants) presented with head trauma.
- Household falls accounted for the majority of injuries (42.1%), followed by falls with a caregiver (8.3%) and from baby walkers (8.3%).
- Only 22.6% of injured children underwent computed tomography, and 3% experienced complications. A significant relationship was found between age, injury cause, and management outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Household falls are the primary cause of head injuries in infants and children under 2 years old.
- Awareness of diagnostic methods is essential for assessing head injury severity, especially given presentation delays.
- Further research into injury prevention and early diagnostic strategies is warranted.
Purpose:
Household head injuries in infants are a significant concern due to their high incidence and potential for serious morbidities. Therefore, understanding the patterns, mechanisms, and outcomes of these injuries is crucial for prevention and management. This study aimed to measure domestic head trauma frequency, study the demographic features, and measure outcomes in pediatric patients aged < 2 years at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Procedures:
This retrospective observational cohort study included all children aged < 2 years who presented with domestic head trauma at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between June 2018 and June 2022. Associations between age, injury mechanisms, and outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.
Findings:
The study included 133 patients (45.1 % were infants) who presented to the pediatric emergency department with head trauma. Head injuries were due to household falls (42.1 %), falls with a caregiver (8.3 %), and falls from baby walkers (8.3 %). Only 22.6 % of injured children underwent computed tomography. Of all injured children, 3 % had complications. A significant relationship was observed between age (months) and cause of head injury and management outcomes among the study participants.
Importance:
Household falls were the most common cause of head injuries in infants and children aged < 2 years. Imaging plays a vital role in assessing head trauma severity. Given the difficulties in assessing head injury severity and the delay in presentation, a diagnostician must be aware of the basic diagnostic methods used in determining brain injury severity.
Level Of Evidence:
LEVEL IV: Type of Study: Retrospective observational cohort study.
