Profile of children with head injuries treated at the trauma unit of Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, 1991 - 2001.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the profile of childhood head injury patients treated in a trauma unit.

DESIGN

A retrospective record-based study.

SETTING

The trauma unit of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.

SUBJECTS: Children (under 13 years of age) presenting with head injuries between January 1991 and December 2001.

RESULTS

Of the almost 94 000 records, more than one-third were children presenting with head injuries. Fifty-nine per cent were boys, with more than half the sample under 5 years of age. The majority of children presented with superficial lacerations and abrasions, mostly affecting the scalp and skull. Injuries were mainly caused by falls from a variety of heights, and traffic-related injuries. Almost two-thirds of traffic-related injuries involved children as pedestrians being struck by a motor vehicle. More than 60% of injuries occurred in or around the child's own home.

CONCLUSIONS

Head injuries in children are a significant cause of morbidity. Prevention, especially in the home and on the streets, needs urgent attention.