gms | German Medical Science

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children represents an important medical, social, psychological, economical and industrial problem. The number of treated children and young adults with TBI is rising. Concomitant injuries play an important role within clinical management and take influence on hospital stay and clinical outcome of young patients. Older children are at risk of severe injuries resulting from high-speed accidents that may prolong the hospital treatment. In our study we analysed the epidemiological data concerning concomitant injuries and their correlation with the length of hospitalisation.

Method: We have collected data of children aged between 0-18 years, treated for head injury (ICD 10; S06.0-9). Treating departments included traumatology, pediatrics, pediatric-surgery and neurosurgery. Data of concomitant injuries, length of hospitalization and course of treatment were evaluated. We used SPSS^® statistical software (IBM Company, SPSS Inc. Chicago Illinois) to analyse the collected data. The T-test was used to describe the difference in the number of the patients in different years.

Results: 794 children were admitted having sustained head injury (2010 N=379; 2011 N=415; p=0,125). 487 (61.3%) of them were male and 307 (38.7%) were female. Multiple injuries were noted in 157 cases (19.77%) and isolated head trauma in 637 (80.2%) of cases. 66 (8.31%) of patients suffered an injury of limbs, 66 (8.31%) had concomitant face injury, 11 (1.39%) children were admitted with concomitant thoracic injury, 33 (4.16%) had spine injury and in 21 (2.64%) cases pelvic and abdominal injury was present. The number of concomitant injuries increases with age. 46.95% of children between 1 and 4 years were treated for 2 days and 20.73% for 3 days. Young adults in the age between 15 and 18 years needed in 27.87% of cases treatment in a hospital for 2 days and in 39.34% of cases for 3 days,

Conclusions: The younger children, especially between 1 and 4 years began to stand and walk and hereby rises the risk of falls and consequent incidence of facial injury. Young adults prone to more dangerous activities and therefore is the risk of sever injuries involving more systems much higher. Thereby better prevention and complex initial management demanding interdisciplinary approach may lead to reduction of hospitalisation and contribute to better outcome.