TÇCD 2011 29. National Pediatric Surgery Congress and 27. National Congress of The Egyptian Pediatric Surgical Association

Aim: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the commonest type of paediatric trauma. The aim of this study is to estimate the incidence and demographics of TBI in children visiting the Emergency Department and describe further management.

Methods: The case notes of all children up to 14 years of age who were treated at the Emergency Department in the year 2009, after sustaining a TBI were studied retrospectively.  Demographics, mechanism and site of injury, associated injuries, diagnostic workup, patient disposition and follow up arrangements were recorded. Simple descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data.

Results: Out of 6872 paediatric visits to the Emergency Department 2370 children with TBI were seen within the 12-month period. Of those, 64% were boys. Children between 1 and 5 years of age were more susceptible to TBI (48%). The predominant causes of injury were falls (69%) followed by road traffic accidents (17%). Two hundred and sixty nine children (11%) were admitted for observation; of those, 19% had a CT. All children who had been hospitalised received a follow up appointment.

Conclusions: Visits due to TBI represent a significant proportion of the Emergency Department caseload. Better understanding of the epidemiology of paediatric TBI is important for raising public awareness and implementing prevention measures as well as for educating health professionals and improving structured assessment and management.

Aim: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the commonest type of paediatric trauma. The aim of this study is to estimate the incidence and demographics of TBI in children visiting the Emergency Department and describe further management.

Methods: The case notes of all children up to 14 years of age who were treated at the Emergency Department in the year 2009, after sustaining a TBI were studied retrospectively.  Demographics, mechanism and site of injury, associated injuries, diagnostic workup, patient disposition and follow up arrangements were recorded. Simple descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data.

Results: Out of 6872 paediatric visits to the Emergency Department 2370 children with TBI were seen within the 12-month period. Of those, 64% were boys. Children between 1 and 5 years of age were more susceptible to TBI (48%). The predominant causes of injury were falls (69%) followed by road traffic accidents (17%). Two hundred and sixty nine children (11%) were admitted for observation; of those, 19% had a CT. All children who had been hospitalised received a follow up appointment.

Conclusions: Visits due to TBI represent a significant proportion of the Emergency Department caseload. Better understanding of the epidemiology of paediatric TBI is important for raising public awareness and implementing prevention measures as well as for educating health professionals and improving structured assessment and management.