Head injury overview: Difference between revisions
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===Physical Examination=== | ===Physical Examination=== | ||
The [[Glasgow Coma Scale]] is a tool for measuring degree of unconsciousness and is thus a useful tool for determining severity of injury. The[[Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale]] is used in young children. | The [[Glasgow Coma Scale]] is a tool for measuring degree of unconsciousness and is thus a useful tool for determining severity of injury. The [[Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale]] is used in young children. | ||
==Treatment== | ==Treatment== |
Revision as of 16:17, 29 May 2013
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Head injury is a trauma to the head, that may or may not include injury to the brain(see also brain injury).
Causes
Common causes of head injury are traffic accidents, home and occupational accidents, falls, and assaults. Bicycle accidents are also a common cause of head injury-related death and disability, especially among children. [1]
Epidemiology and Demographics
The incidence (number of new cases) of head injury is 300 per 100,000 per year (0.3% of the population), with a mortality of 25 per 100,000 in North America and 9 per 100,000 in Britain. Head trauma is a common cause of childhood hospitalization.
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Recovery in children with neurologic deficits will vary. Children with neurologic deficits who improve daily are more likely to recover. Children who are vegetative for months are less likely to improve. Most patients without deficits have full recovery. However, persons who sustain head trauma resulting in unconsciousness for an hour or more have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.[2]
Diagnosis
Physical Examination
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool for measuring degree of unconsciousness and is thus a useful tool for determining severity of injury. The Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale is used in young children.
Treatment
Surgery
Second line alternatives include decompressive craniectomy (Jagannathan et al. found a net 65% favorable outcomes rate in pediatric patients), barbiturate coma, hypertonic saline and hypothermia.
References
- ↑ National Safe Kids Campaign (NSKC) (2004). "Bicycle injury fact sheet" (PDF). NSKC. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ↑ Small, Gary W (2002-06-22). "What we need to know about age related memory loss". British Medical Journal: 1502–1507. Retrieved 2006-11-05. Check date values in:
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