Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the clinical signs of traumatic brain injury and its long-term effects on prognosis by evaluating the clinical and radiological findings of the patients admitted to the pediatric emergency department due to blunt head trauma.

Method: The cases who applied to the pediatric emergency department due to head trauma were examined prospectively. Glaskow Coma (GCS) and Pediatric Trauma Scores (PTS) were calculated. The patients were evaluated neurologically 6 months after they were discharged.

Results: A total of 707 pediatric patients [mean age: 59.8 ± 42.6 months; range: 1 month to 13 years; 263 (37.2%) girls] were evaluated prospectively. Pathology was detected in 101 cases (45.9%) [(epidural hematoma, 14; subdural hematoma, 11; brain edema, 36; intracerebral hematoma, 6; subarachnoid hemorrhage, 8; cerebral contusion, 22. Seventy-two (10.1%) patients had skull fractures.] Seventeen cases (2.4%) were operated, and 7 (1.4%) cases were lost. In children aged < 2 years vomiting, tachypnea, focal neurological findings, multitrauma, GCS <15 and low PTS were more common with traumatic brain injury (p <0.05). Vomiting, GCS <15 and low PTS were more common in children >2 years old and with traumatic brain injury (p <0.05). Neurological sequelae were not detected in patients aged <2 years with mild trauma. Loss of consciousness, pulse rate, respiratory and blood pressure abnormalities, focal neurological findings, low GCS and PTS were more common in children aged >2 years and with neurological sequelae (p <0.05).

Conclusion: Physical examination findings, GCS, and PTS levels are useful tools in predicting the short- and long-term consequences of the injury.