Hayagriva Rao 1 , K. S. Vara Prasad 2 , K. Indu Sekhar 3 , Raja Sekhar 4
ABSTRACT: Traumatic brain injury is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children. The anatomical features, physiological response to injury, neuronal development, and low myelination in children cause different clinical features compared to the adult traumatic brain injury. Our aim is to study the incidence, predisposing factors, clinical presentations, and outcome in pediatric head injuries. The patients included in this retrospective study are under the age of 14 years admitted in the Neurosurgery Department of King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, which is a tertiary care centre. The study period is two years’ duration from 1.1.2013 to 31.12.2014. Data collected on the basis of history, physical examination, base line investigations, and the plain CT scan is all cases. The pediatric patients were 226 in total 1643 case of head injury cases. There were 64.6% (n=146) males and 35.4% (n=80) females. The age ranged from 12 days to 14 years. Fall from height was the commonest cause of head injury found in 48.6% (n=110) cases, road traffic accidents (RTA) in 34.5% (n=78) and other causes 16.8% (n=38); 49 (21.68%) patients had associated injuries. At 55.75% (n=126) cases mild head injury with GCS 13-15 was present and severe head injury with GCS less than 8 in 29 (12.8%) patients. The 188 patients are treated conservatively, 38 patients underwent different neurosurgical procedures in which 5 patients died. CONCLUSION: Head injury in pediatric age group carries high risk of morbidi
