Minor head injuries in children - an approach to management.
BACKGROUND
Traumatic head injury is a common occurrence in the paediatric population, with the majority of patients sustaining only mild head injury.


OBJECTIVE
This article outlines the management of mild head injuries in children.


CONCLUSIONS
A careful history including time of injury, the mechanism of injury, and any loss of consciousness or seizure activity; a thorough examination including a Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) score; and observation should be appropriate for most patients. Only a small number of injuries require further examination/imaging with computerised tomography. Indicators for transfer to hospital include GCS equal to or less than 12, focal neurological deficit, clinical evidence of skull fracture, loss of consciousness for more than 30 seconds, ataxia, amnesia, abnormal drowsiness, persistent headache, seizure following initial normal behaviour or recurrent vomiting. Postconcussive symptoms frequently occur after minor head injuries and parents and other family members should be aware of what symptoms to expect, and possible duration. Regular follow up until all symptoms have resolved is mandatory, with clear guidelines for stepwise resumption of physical activity.
Lückhoff
Carl
C
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. sacarl@gmail.com
Starr
Mike
M
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014739:Victoria