Extradural haemorrhage in infancy and childhood. A review of 35 years' experience in South Australia.
One hundred and two paediatric cases of extradural haemorrhage (EDH) were treated in Adelaide, South Australia, during the period 1954-1988; 10 were infants (0-2 years) and 92 were children (2-14 years). There were 9 deaths (mortality 8.8%). Long-term disabilities severe enough to interfere with school and/or employment were seen in 8 (7.8%) survivors. This relatively low number of adverse outcomes is partly an expression of a low incidence (5.9%) of associated intradural haematomas and few high-velocity impacts due to vehicular accidents. There is reason to believe that the results of treatment have improved in the decade 1977-1988. We attribute this in part to early diagnosis by computed tomography (CT), but a contributory factor may be earlier referrals from country centres to a paediatric trauma centre and rapid transfer, by air or road, by medical retrieval teams.
Molloy
C J
CJ
Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.
McCaul
K A
KA
McLean
A J
AJ
North
J B
JB
Simpson
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D013021:South Australia; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed