title: Operative treatment of paediatric penetrating head injuries in southern Afghanistan.
abstract: The operative management and early post-operative outcome of 16 consecutive cases of paediatric penetrating head injury treated by a single surgeon at a military trauma centre in Southern Afghanistan are retrospectively analysed. The majority of cases of injury were caused by fragments from exploding munitions. The aim of neurosurgical intervention in penetrating head injury is the prevention of wound infection and treatment or prevention of a critical rise in intracranial pressure. In 14 cases in this study, these aims were fulfilled without resort to brain resection, although a delayed cranioplasty procedure was required in 6 patients. Despite the ongoing conflict, families, local communities and coalition forces transport teams combine to make the latter a viable option in Southern Afghanistan, with an excellent short-term outcome.
authors: Formerly Consultant Neurosurgeon, Ninewells Hospital , Dundee, Scotland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Mathew
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Gibbons
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Christie
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: Eisenburg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000346:Afghanistan; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome