title: Epidemiology of traumatic head injury in Korean children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology of traumatic head injury (THI) among Korean children. A prospective, in-depth trauma survey was conducted in five teaching hospitals. Data from all of the children who attended the emergency department (ED) were analyzed. From June 2008 to May 2009, 2,856 children with THI visited the 5 EDs. The average age of the subjects was 5.6 (SD ± 4.9) yr old, and 1,585 (55.5%) were 0-4 yr old. The male-to-female ratio was 2.3 to 1 (1,979 vs 877). Consciousness levels of the subjects were classified according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and 99.1%, 0.6%, and 0.4% were determined as mild, moderate, or severe injury, respectively, according to the GCS categorization. Most injuries occurred at home (51.3%), and the most common mechanism of injury was collision (43.2%). With regard to outcome, 2,682 (93.9%) patients were sent home, and 35 (1.2%) were transferred to another hospital. A total of 133 (4.7%) patients were hospitalized, and 38 (1.3%) underwent surgery. The incidence and characteristics of pediatric THI in Korea are affected by sex, location and injury mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hahn Bom
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Do Kyun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Sang Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Kyoung Jun
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Seung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Ok
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Seong Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors