title: Management of head injuries in children.
abstract: Head injury is the most common cause of injury-related death and permanent disability in children. Minor head trauma is common in childhood and does not require any medical treatment. Although deficits can occur even after mild to moderate head injury, they are markedly greater and become clinically evident following severe head injury. It is important that emergency department clinicians are aware of the signs and symptoms that indicate severe traumatic brain injury and triage for urgent intervention in those children who present with these signs and symptoms. Clinicians also need to know when children can be sent home with reassurance and information, and when they require admission or transfer to a neurosurgical unit. This article examines the literature on head injuries in children, describes assessment, management and treatment, and provides a simple management algorithm.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, England.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Conchie
authors.affiliation: Yeovil District Hospital, Somerset, England.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Yeovil District Hospital, Somerset, England.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Torbay Hospital, Torquay, England.
authors.forename: Siba Prosad
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination
keywords: C-spine injury; children; computed tomography scan; emergency care; head injury; non-accidental injury