Household head injuries in infants presenting to a tertiary pediatric emergency: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Household head injuries in infants are a significant concern due to their high incidence and potential for serious morbidities. Therefore, understanding the patterns, mechanisms, and outcomes of these injuries is crucial for prevention and management. This study aimed to measure domestic head trauma frequency, study the demographic features, and measure outcomes in pediatric patients aged < 2 years at King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PROCEDURES: This retrospective observational cohort study included all children aged < 2 years who presented with domestic head trauma at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between June 2018 and June 2022. Associations between age, injury mechanisms, and outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.

FINDINGS: The study included 133 patients (45.1 % were infants) who presented to the pediatric emergency department with head trauma. Head injuries were due to household falls (42.1 %), falls with a caregiver (8.3 %), and falls from baby walkers (8.3 %). Only 22.6 % of injured children underwent computed tomography. Of all injured children, 3 % had complications. A significant relationship was observed between age (months) and cause of head injury and management outcomes among the study participants.

IMPORTANCE

Household falls were the most common cause of head injuries in infants and children aged < 2 years. Imaging plays a vital role in assessing head trauma severity. Given the difficulties in assessing head injury severity and the delay in presentation, a diagnostician must be aware of the basic diagnostic methods used in determining brain injury severity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: LEVEL IV: Type of Study: Retrospective observational cohort study.