Protective helmets for children with special health care needs.
An illustrative case of a second traumatic brain injury in the same child raises the issue of the criteria by which protective helmets for disabled children should be prescribed. There is a dearth of data substantiating criteria for helmet prescription for special needs children and assessing potential adverse side effects of routinely wearing a helmet. Further studies seem warranted to determine whether protective helmets truly reduce the frequency and severity of secondary trauma and whether there are adverse effects that outweigh benefits.
Sneed
R C
RC
Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216-4505, USA.
Stencel
C
C
D000058:Accidental Falls; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055502:Secondary Prevention