Clinical Practice Experiences in Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: A Survey among Clinicians at 9 Large Hospitals in China

History of pediatric TBI hospitalization and current child-parent relationship quality in China

BACKGROUND

Long-term child-parent relationship quality following hospitalization for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

We tested whether current child-parent conflict and closeness were related to the children's history of TBI-related experiences and contemporary child/family characteristics.

METHODS

The sample included 202 Chinese children (Boys: 60.4%) with a history of hospitalization for TBI. On average, the children were 11.2 years old (SD = 1.59) and sustained TBI at 8.5 years old (SD = 1.6). TBI-related data were obtained from hospital medical records. Parents provided data on child-parent closeness, child-parent conflict, and parental efficacy 2-4 years (M = 2.7, SD = 0.7) after discharge.

RESULTS

Forty-nine children (24.3%) had mild TBI, 139 (68.8%) had moderate TBI, and 14 (6.9%) had severe TBI. Surgical intervention occurred among 128 (63.4%) of the 202 children. Contemporaneous child and family characteristics explained 19% of the variance, history of surgery, length of hospitalization, and recovery status explained another 7%, and the interaction between length of hospitalization and parental efficacy explained another 4% in child-parent conflict. Contemporaneous child and family characteristics explained 29% of the variance, and TBI-related variables explained another 2% in child-parent closeness.

CONCLUSION

Post-TBI child-parent relationship was more associated with child/family characteristics than with TBI variables. Practitioners and families should be aware of the long-term challenges to child-parent relationship following hospitalization for pediatric TBI.

Risk factors for positive brain CT scan in children with traumatic brain injury and GCS = 15: A retrospective study

It is controversial whether it is necessary to carry out head computed tomography (CT) examination for children who had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) but are conscious (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) = 15). The present study explored the risk/predictive factors of positive CT results in children with mild closed head injury and GCS = 15.This was a retrospective study of children (0-18 years of age) with TBI and GCS = 15 and treated at the First People's Hospital of Wenling between 06/2013 and 06/2018. The outcome was a positive head plain CT result. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the factors independently associated with positive CT results.A total of 279 children were included. The majority of the injured were boys (180/279, 64.5%). The top three causes of injury were traffic accidents (100/279, 35.8%), falling from height (92/279, 33.0%), and tumble (72/279, 25.8%). The top three clinical symptoms were headache (201/279, 72.0%), scalp hematoma (133/279, 47.7%), and nausea with or without vomiting (105/279, 37.6%). The multivariable analysis showed that scalp hematoma (OR = 3.040, 95%CI: 1.791-5.159, P < .0001), ear and nostril bleeding or periorbital soft tissue contusion (OR = 2.234, 95%CI: 1.087-4.590, P = .029), and nausea with or without vomiting (OR = 2.186, 95%CI: 1.255-3.810, P = .006) were independently associated with positive results of head CT.For children with TBI and GCS = 15, the factors independently associated with positive CT results are scalp hematoma, ear and nostril bleeding or periorbital soft tissue contusion, and nausea with or without vomiting.

Clinico-radiologic Profile of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury in Western Rajasthan

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinico-radiological profile and outcome of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design:

Prospective observational study

Setting:

Intensive Care Unit, ward and OPD of Pediatrics, Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur (tertiary care hospital).

Participants:

A total of 188 children (1 month–18 years) were enrolled and 108 admitted.

Intervention:

TBI classified as mild, moderate, or severe TBI. Neuroimaging was done and managed as per protocol. Demographic profile, mode of transport, and injury were recorded.

Outcome:

Measured as hospital stay duration, focal deficits, mortality, and effect of early physiotherapy.

Results:

Males slightly outnumbered females mean age was 5.41 ± 4.20 years. Fall from height was the main cause of TBI (61.11%) followed by road traffic accident (RTA) (27.78%). Majority (56.56%) reached hospital within 6 h of injury, out of which 27% of patients were unconscious. Mild, moderate, and severe grade of TBI was seen in 50%, 27.78%, and 22.22% of cases, respectively. About 12.96% of cases required ventilator support. The average duration of hospital stay was 11.81 ± 12.9 days and was lesser when physiotherapy and rehabilitation were started early. In all children with temporal bone fracture, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain revealed a temporal lobe hematoma and contusion in spite of initial computed tomography (CT) head normal. Children who have cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea/otorrhea had a high chance of fracture of base of skull and contusion of the basal part of the brain.

Conclusion:

In India, fall from height is common setting for pediatric TBI besides RTA. Early initiation of physiotherapy results in good outcome. MRI detects basal brain contusions in children presenting with CSF rhinorrhea/otorrhea even if initial CT brain is normal.

Scalp Haematoma in Cerebral Palsy Case due to Unknown Cause - A Rare Case Report

Incidences of cerebral palsy (CP) in children are not quite common even though it is the most common motor disorder in children. Further quality of life in CP cases is not so good in young adult stages and has to face certain problems. However scalp haematoma formation in CP patient without injury to head is rarely been reported. The case is being reported for the first time from Malaysia. We report on a unique case of scalp haematoma in an 18-year-old girl of known CP patient with unknown cause. No history of trauma or fall with any of the focal neurological signs or symptoms was found. Clinical examination showed soft boggy swelling of 8 x 10 cm size, involving most of scalp and upper face. CT - scan showed scalp haematoma with right orbital extraconal lesion. She underwent incision and drainage of scalp lesion; consequently around 100 ml of clotted blood came out. At follow-up she was doing well.