Citation

Agrawal A, Agrawal CS, Kumar A, Lewis O, Malla G, Khatiwada R, Rokaya P. Afr. J. Paediatr. Surg. 2008; 5(1): 15-18.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Child Health International, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0189-6725.41630

PMID

19858657

Abstract

Background: In children, majority of the head injuries are minor and management of critically ill children depend on a team approach using well-rehearsed, systematic management protocols that can be implemented within hours after injury. This study was carried out to ascertain the epidemiology and management of know the demographic profile and etiology of paediatric head injury in our setting, to know the clinical and radiological characteristics of head injury patients and to know the treatment options and outcome in paediatric head injuries. Patients and Methods: Details of all children (age Results: There were total 43 patients. Young male children were more commonly affected in present series with a mean age of 7.67 years (median - 5.010 years), range 6 months-16 year. Fall (65.11%) was the most common mode of injury followed by road traffic accidents (RTAs) (25.6%). Mild head injuries (65.11%) were most common. Most common complaint was loss of consciousness and all the patients with severe head injury presented loss of consciousness. All patients with mild head showed good recovery; with moderate head injury, nine patients showed good recovery and three patients recovered with moderate disability. Patients with severe head injury (three patients) had 100% mortality. Conclusions: In urban areas of Nepal, RTAs like vehicular crashes, motor cycle accidents, and pedestrian hit by moving vehicle are more common and in rural areas fall from height are commoner. We need to develop child safety legislations and risk-specific intervention programs in Nepal.

Language: en