scholarly journals Epidemiology and risk stratification of minor head injuries in school-going children

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Wing Yee Tong ◽  
Sek Wan Tan ◽  
Shu-Ling Chong

Introduction: Head injuries occur commonly in children and can lead to concussion injuries. We aim to describe the epidemiology of head injuries among school-going children and identify predictors of brain concussions in Singapore. Methods: This is a retrospective study of children 7–16 years old who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore with minor head injury between June 2017 and August 2018. Data including demographics, clinical presentation, ED and hospital management were collected using a standardised electronic template. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify early predictors for brain concussion. Concussion symptoms were defined as persistent symptoms after admission, need for inpatient intervention, or physician concerns necessitating neuroimaging. Results: Among 1,233 children (mean age, 6.6 years; 72.6% boys) analysed, the commonest mechanism was falls (64.6%). Headache and vomiting were the most common presenting symptoms. A total of 395 (32.0%) patients required admission, and 277 (22.5%) had symptoms of concussion. Older age (13–16 years old) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–2.08), children involved in road traffic accidents (aOR 2.12, CI 1.17–3.85) and a presenting complaint of headache (aOR 2.64, CI 1.99–3.50) were significantly associated with symptoms of concussion. Conclusion: This study provides a detailed description of the pattern of head injuries among school-going children in Singapore. High risk patients may require closer monitoring to detect post-concussion syndrome early. Keywords: Brain injuries, child, concussions, school, sport

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Wing Yee Tong ◽  
Sek Wan Tan ◽  
Shu-Ling Chong

Introduction: Head injuries occur commonly in children and can lead to concussion injuries. We aim to describe the epidemiology of head injuries among school-going children and identify predictors of brain concussions in Singapore. Methods: This is a retrospective study of children 7–16 years old who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore with minor head injury between June 2017 and August 2018. Data including demographics, clinical presentation, ED and hospital management were collected using a standardised electronic template. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify early predictors for brain concussion. Concussion symptoms were defined as persistent symptoms after admission, need for inpatient intervention, or physician concerns necessitating neuroimaging. Results: Among 1,233 children (mean age, 6.6 years; 72.6% boys) analysed, the commonest mechanism was falls (64.6%). Headache and vomiting were the most common presenting symptoms. A total of 395 (32.0%) patients required admission, and 277 (22.5%) had symptoms of concussion. Older age (13–16 years old) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–2.08), children involved in road traffic accidents (aOR 2.12, CI 1.17–3.85) and a presenting complaint of headache (aOR 2.64, CI 1.99–3.50) were significantly associated with symptoms of concussion. Conclusion: This study provides a detailed description of the pattern of head injuries among school-going children in Singapore. High risk patients may require closer monitoring to detect post-concussion syndrome early. Keywords: Brain injuries, child, concussions, school, sport


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Saufi Awang ◽  
Buveinthiran Balakrishnan ◽  
Chan Kin Hup ◽  
Razman Mohd Rus

Introduction: Mild traumatic brain injury is the most common form of traumatic brain injury. Individuals sustaining mild head injuries often complain of a cluster of symptoms termed post concussion syndrome. Post concussion syndrome can be profoundly disabling. Thus the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of post concussion syndrome in an adult population with mild traumatic brain injury in a single neurosurgical center in East Coast, Malaysia. Methods: Cross Sectional study, in a single neurosurgical center in Kuantan, Pahang. The study period is from January 2016 – December 2016. Universal sampling method was used, all patients with mild traumatic brain injury presenting to HTAA, meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria is included in this study. Patients are then subjected to the checklist for diagnosis of post concussion syndrome as per ICD 10 classification at 2 weeks interval. Results: Between February 2016 – June 2016, a total of 136 patients with mild traumatic injury have been recruited to this study. The leading cause of mild traumatic brain injury is road traffic accidents, 86 patients (63.2%), and the mean age of this patient with mild traumatic brain injury is 28.8. Out of this number, 11 patients (8.1%) have been diagnosed with post concussion syndrome. Conclusions: The majority of individuals who sustain mild traumatic brain injuries are young adults, and the most common cause is road traffic accidents. Less than 10% of recruited patients suffered from post concussion syndrome.


2008 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. 63-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arvind Kumar ◽  
Sanjeev Lalwani ◽  
Deepak Agrawal ◽  
Ravi Rautji ◽  
TD Dogra

AbstractIn depth studies of fatal vehicular accidents provide valuable data for implementing effective emergency services to reduce the trauma related mortality and strengthening legal measures in peak hours of fatal accidents. We aimed to study, pattern of injuries especially fatal traumatic brain injuries occurring in vehicular accidents. Postmortem reports and clinical records of victims of road traffic accident autopsied during the period of 2001–2005 at Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, were analyzed retrospectively. Out of total 7008 medico legal autopsies conducted during the study period, 2472 (35.27 %) were of vehicular accidents. The male/female ratio was 7.49:1. Commonest age group affected was between 21-40 years involving 1341 (54.24%) cases. Pre-hospital mortality was in 985 (39.84 %) cases. Fatal traumatic brain injuries were seen in 1699 (68.73%) cases. Skull fractures were found in 1183 (69.63%) cases of head injury; most common bone fractured was temporal bone (n=559, 47.25%). The commonest variety of intracranial hemorrhage was subdural hemorrhage (n=1514, 89.11%). The craniotomy was done in 297 (17.48%) cases; maximum mortality (41.07%) was seen within 4–ays. Most commonly injured abdominal organ was liver (n=532, 21.52%). No significant difference was evident in incidence of fatal vehicular accident on weekends and weekdays. However November month took maximum toll of deaths (n=273, 11.04%) of total vehicular accident fatalities in five year duration. 53.20% of fatal accident occurred between 6 PM and 6 AM. The results of study emphasize the need to improve the pre hospital care with provision of trauma services at site and to establish neurosurgical facilities with trauma registry.


2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Fernando

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) inherited the `coroner system' of investigating death in the early nineteenth century. Unlike in England and Wales, the coroner system in Sri Lanka did not change much in the last century. This study, the first of its kind, was performed for a period of three months in 1995 to analyse the causes and circumstances of deaths reported for inquest, and the number of autopsies performed. Of the 868 cases reported to the Inquirer, the circumstances were not determined in 94 cases at the initial inquest proceedings. Of the other 774 cases, 454 (58.7%) were natural deaths. Autopsies were performed on 44.5% of natural deaths, 58.2% of accidental deaths, 96% of road traffic accidents, 44.9 % of suicides and 81.6% of homicides. Coronary heart disease was the leading cause of natural death (33.9%). Head injuries were responsible for 31.8% of accidental deaths while burns accounted for 24.5% of accidental deaths and 46.3% of suicides. There were 38 cases (4.9%) of homicide of which autopsies were performed in 31. There is an urgent need to reform the century-old laws relating to inquest procedures in the country.


Author(s):  
Arun Kumar Singh

Majority of the world's fatalities on the roads occur in low-income and middle-income countries, even though these countries have approximately half of the world's vehicles. India is no exception and data showed that more than 1.3 lakh people died on Indian roads, giving India the dubious honour of topping the global list of fatalities from road crashes. Road traffic injuries have been neglected from the global health agenda for many years, despite being predictable and largely preventable. Evidence from many countries shows that dramatic successes in preventing road traffic crashes can be achieved through concerted efforts that involve, but are not limited to, the health sector. Hence based on above findings the present study was planned for Assessment of Injuries in Road Traffic Accidents Admitted to Emergency Department of GMCH, Bettiah, West Champaran, Bihar. The present study was planned in Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Bettiah, West Champaran, Bihar, India from jan 2018 to Dec 2018.In the present study 20 cases suffered from the road traffic accidents were evaluated for the pattern of injury. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire especially designed for this purpose was used for interviewing the accident victims, either in the emergency itself or in the wards. In India, there are ample risk factors for RTAs to occur because of lack of proper infrastructural facilities, poor designs of roads, improper implementation of traffic rules and a high load of variety of vehicles on the roads.  Road traffic accidents with head injuries are much more common in young working males as compared to females and that to in those who were pedestrians and motor cyclists. The rate of incidence is higher in India because of bad traffic patterns and possibly the lack of awareness about traffic rules and also lack of good hospital services to our victims of RTAs. Keywords: Injuries, Road Traffic Accidents, Emergency Department, GMCH, Bettiah, West Champaran, Bihar, etc.  


2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama S. Abdelaziz ◽  
Mohamed N. Elwany ◽  
Mahmoud A. Abbassy ◽  
Mona S. Mostafa

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s19-s20
Author(s):  
A. Agrawal ◽  
A. Kakani ◽  
N. Baisakhiya ◽  
S. Galwankar ◽  
S. Dwivedi

Background and ObjectivesAnalyses of causes and trends of traumatic brain injuries help to define public health policy priorities. There are not much TBI registries, thus making documentation of injuries inadequate and accessing these data problematic. This study is aimed at identifying the characteristics of TBI and determining the efficiency of documentation of patients' records in a tertiary hospital.Patients and MethodsBased on WHO guidelines “Standards for Surveillance of Neurotrauma” we designed a proforma to collect data on traumatic brain injuries. A prospective data collection was done from January to June 2010. Data was collected on a paper form and then entered into the self-developed TBI registry database. Descriptive analysis was performed.ResultsData for a total 414 patients were collected. Mean age was 33.00 years (SD ± 16.725, range 1–85 years), and 81% male. Most of the accidents took place on highways (57.2%), commonest being the road traffic accidents (55.1%), brought by relatives (74%). The mean duration for hospital stay was 5.42 days (SD ± 8.312 days, range 1-79 days). 10% patients required resuscitation at the time of admission. Details of Glasgow coma scale were available; details regarding CT scan findings were available for 300 patients. Good recovery was seen in 68.4% and the mortality was in 7.2%. Further details on vital parameters and investigations included in the study were also collected.ConclusionsTBI related research in many developing countries is in the developmental stages with relatively few published data. Although early analysis of a TBI data can lead to useful information, there is further need for the development of a user-friendly secure web-based database system to continuously maintain and analyze the registry.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-93
Author(s):  
Gurbax Singh ◽  
Sumit Prinja ◽  
Suchina Parmar ◽  
Garima Bansal ◽  
Simmi Jindal

Introduction Laryngeal trauma can be an immediately life-threatening entity.  Failure to recognize such injuries and delay in securing the airway may have fatal results. Early diagnosis and accurate evaluation with proper treatment is vital. Materials and Methods Fifteen patients with laryngotracheal injuries were analyzed prospectively. The outcome was assessed both in terms of voice and airway, on short term and long term basis. Result Commonest cause of injury was suicidal followed by road traffic accidents and strangulation. The main presenting symptoms and signs were stridor, hoarseness, haemoptysis and odynophagia. Five patients suffered penetrating trauma and ten patient sustained blunt trauma. Sites of laryngeal injury included; hyoid bone fracture, mixed soft tissue and cartilaginous injuries, thyrohyoid membrane and cricothyroid membrane injuries. Eleven patients presented within 24 hours of the injury. Outcome (airway and voice) was good in ten patients whereas it was poor in three patients. Poor results were seen in patients who had delayed surgical intervention. Conclusion Early surgical intervention is recommended for   traumatic laryngeal injuries to ensure a good outcome; which further depends upon patient’s condition, injury and treatment-specific factors.


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