Citation

Falk AC, Klang B, Paavonen EJ, von Wendt LOW. Dev. Neurorehabil. 2007; 10(1): 49-55.

Affiliation

Department of Women and Child Health-Neuropediatrics, Astrid Lindgren's Hospital for Children, Karolinska Institut, Stockholm, Sweden. ann-charlotte.falk@karolinska.se

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17608326

Abstract

PURPOSE: A traumatic head injury is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children, however few population-based studies in this area have been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and management of traumatic head injuries in children at a level-one trauma centre in Stockholm, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: All children (n = 3168) who visited the emergency department with a history of head injury during 1 year were included. METHOD: The required information was collected retrospectively and the children's medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: The overall incidences of head injury were 865 per 100 000 children with the highest incidence (2379/10(5) children) occurring among children younger than 18 months of age. Twelve per cent (n = 396) were admitted to a hospital ward and CT scans were performed in 13% (n = 412) of all children. During this year, 0.3% required a neurosurgical intervention and only 1% of all children had documentation of a planned follow-up appointment. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that clinical documentation as a part of the early management in children with a head injury is inconsistent and suffers from lack of valid criteria. Implementation of clinical guidelines during emergency care would help improve subsequent hospital care, as well as the planning of health care services for these children.

Language: en