Citation

Murgio A, Fernandez Milà J, Manolio A, Maurel D, Ubeda C. J. Neurosurg. Sci. 1999; 43(1): 15-23; discussion 23-4.

Affiliation

Argentinian Society of Paediatrics.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Minerva Medica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10494662

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To evaluate epidemiologic factors in relation to paediatric head injury in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina. METHODS: Retrospective (12-month) and prospective (6-month) evaluations were carried out on a total of 2,492 children with head injury (age range 0-15 years), taking into account sex, age, cause of injury, time of injury, incidence of hospitalisation, and the occurrence of fractures on conventional X-ray and computarized tomography (CT) scans of the head. Data were compiled and analyzed through a register called "Traumatic Brain Injury Register". RESULTS: From the total 2,492 children entered in the registry, 62% were males and 38% females. Age distribution was as follows: 33.5% from 0-2 years, 43.8% from 3-9 years, and 22.7% from 10-15 years. Falls were the main cause of head injury in children under 3 years of age, whereas car accidents prevailed among older groups (chi2 = 216.00, p<0.0001). Injuries occurred most frequently (84.7% of the cases) between 12:00 hrs and 24:00 hrs. From the total sample, 1,015 children (19.9%) required hospitalisation. Skull fractures were identified on conventional X-rays in 14.9% of the cases, and there was a direct relationship between skull X-rays and CT scans with respect to skull fractures (chi2 = 13.13, p<0.0001). The overall incidence of paediatric head injuries was 566 cases per 100,000 population and mortality rate was 4.65 per 1,000 head injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Our figures revealed an overall incidence of paediatric head injuries, which is 2.97 higher than the international average, suggesting that accident prevention measures should be further implemented.

Language: en