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Primalani NK, Chan YH, Ng ZM, Chong SL, Seow WT, Loh LE, Mok YH, Low SYY. Abusive head injury in the very young: outcomes from a Singapore children's hospital. Childs Nerv Syst 2022; 38:2397-2407. [PMID: 35851614 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-022-05572-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a serious problem in children. The aims of this study are to identify risk factors that correlate with outcomes for those requiring neurosurgical intervention for very young children with AHT, assessment of variables associated with outcomes, and corroboration of our results with literature. METHODS This is an ethics-approved, retrospective study. Inclusion criteria consisted of patients aged 2 years old or less with a diagnosis of AHT managed by the Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital. Demographical and clinical variables are incorporated in the statistical analyses. Logistic regression was applied to statistically significant variables for the risk prediction model. RESULTS From 2000 to 2020, 24 patients required surgery for AHT. Timepoint was set at 12 months post-diagnosis. Univariate analyses demonstrated that patients with mild TBI were likely to have a favourable GOS-E Peds (p = 0.01), whereas radiological presence of cerebral oedema (p < .001), development of scar epilepsy (p = 0.021), and progression to cerebral palsy (p = 0.001) were associated with unfavourable GOS-E Peds. CONCLUSION This is the first study focused on neurosurgical outcomes for very young children with AHT in Singapore. We advocate multidisciplinary efforts to improve outcomes for this devastating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yiong Huak Chan
- Biostatistics Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Block MD11, Clinical Research Centre, #02-03 (c/o CBmE Office), 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Zhi Min Ng
- Neurology Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shu-Ling Chong
- Children's Emergency, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Tew Seow
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, Singapore.,Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore
| | - Lik Eng Loh
- Children's Intensive Care Unit, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, Singapore
| | - Yee Hui Mok
- Children's Intensive Care Unit, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, Singapore
| | - Sharon Y Y Low
- Neurosurgical Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 229899, Singapore. .,Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore. .,SingHealth Duke-NUS Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 308433, Singapore.
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Lee MHM, Ganapathy S, Low SM, Chua CLQ, Chong SL, Ma E, Wong PCY. A review of child sexual abuse cases presenting to a paediatric emergency department. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2021; 50:527-535. [PMID: 34342333 DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2021127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Child sexual abuse (CSA) adversely affects a child's growth and well-being. This study aimed to describe the profile of children presenting to a tertiary paediatric emergency department(ED) with CSA. METHODS Children 0-16 years old presenting to KK Women's and Children's Hospital ED from June 2016 to August 2020 with sexual abuse were retrospectively reviewed. We performed a secondary analysis on girls and stratified them by age <13 and ≥13 years old. RESULTS There were 790 patients who made 833 visits for CSA. Victims were predominantly girls (747, 94.8%) and perpetrators were predominantly men (763, 96.6%). The abuse first occurred before the age of 13 years in 315 victims (39.9%). For 468 (59.2%), more than one incident occurred before presentation. Compared to girls ≥13 years old, girls <13 years old were more frequently abused by a family member (47.7% versus 8.0%, P<0.001) and abused in their own home (55.7% vs 21.0%, P<0.001). Among all children, parental divorce and the absence of one or both biological parents in the household were prevalent, with 287/783 (36.7%) having divorced parents, and only 374/784 (47.8%) residing with both biological parents. CONCLUSION The findings highlight common characteristics of CSA cases, and can aid the future identification and protection of vulnerable children. The fact that most children presented after more than one incident suggests the need to more closely monitor and protect potentially at-risk children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalene H M Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
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