Clinical-epidemiological profile of hospitalized children and adolescents by head trauma

• Main Authors: João Ananias Machado Filho, Anamaria Cavalcante e Silva, Márcia Maria Tavares Machado, Rodrigo Araújo Madureira, Francisco Heron Alves de Carvalho, Lara Ribeiro Santiago, Luciano Lima Correia
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade de Fortaleza 2010-12-01
• Series: Revista Brasileira em Promoção da Saúde
• Subjects: Accidents; Traffic Accidents; Accidental Falls; Brain Injuries; Child.
• Online Access: http://www.unifor.br/images/pdfs/rbps/artigo05_2010.4.pdf
• ISSN: 1806-1222; 1806-1230

with Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to analyze the severity of head trauma. Methods: A retrospective study evaluating 333 medical records of children and adolescents (0-19 years), admitted between June/2002 to July/2004 at a referral hospital for neurosurgery, in Cariri-CE, Brazil. Results: Most patients were male (70.3%), predominantly between 15-19 years. Mild trauma occurred in 73.3% (p = 0.294) of males, aged 5 years (88.9%, p = 0.048). Moderate to severe trauma occurred between 15-19 years (35.3%). As the main causal factors were identified falls from height (48.1%) and motorcycle (47.1%). Conclusion: The cases of TBI indicate high prevalence of severe cases, with the prevalence of falls and motorcycle accidents. The admissions in the neurosurgery service point to a public health problem of violence by the factors involved, especially the traffic, being necessary preventive and control measures, as from enforcement of traffic laws.