Table 1.
Summary of presenting characteristics, including average patient age, mechanism of injury, presenting symptoms, and associated injuries as described in included studies.
| Author (reference) | Number of patients (n) | Mean age (range, if applicable) (years) | Mode of injury (number of patients affected, if stated) | Presenting symptoms (number of patients affected, if stated) | Associated injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abat et al. 12 | 1 | 17 | MVA | • GCS 13 • Temporal • Disorientation • Incoherent speech |
• Ulnar, radial, clavicle fractures • Pseudo-meningocele • Brachial plexus injury |
| Anderson and Montesano 10 | 2 | 10.5 (3–18) | MVA (2) | • LOC (2) • Neck pain once patient regained consciousness (1) |
Not stated |
| Bakhshi et al. 13 | 2 | 12.61 (9–16) | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Capuano et al. 14 | 2 | 15.5 (14–17) | High energy trauma (2) | • GCS 7 (2) • Cranial nerve 9, 10, 11 injury (2) |
• Diffuse brain edema • Epidural hematoma • C1-C2 fracture |
| Curri et al. 15 | 1 | 16 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle | • Deep Coma • Decerebration at four limbs • Abnormal position of head/torticollis • Stiff neck when awake |
• Thin subdural clot drained by use of a craniotomy |
| Harding-Smith et al. 16 | 1 | 18 | MVA | • LOC • “Tilted head”/torticollis |
• Right squamous temporal bone fracture with possible involvement of petrous portion |
| Kapapa et al. 17 | 1 | 15 | Falling off a carousel in a school yard | • Progressive neck pain • Head in a fixed position/torticollis |
None |
| Kelly and Parrish 18 | 1 | 16 | MVA | • GCS 9 | • Bleeding from occipital scalp wound • Frontal lobe hematoma |
| Leventhal et al. 8 | 2 | 17 | MVA | • GCS 10 • GCS 4 |
• Mild subluxation C4–5 • Mandibular fracture • Left pneumothorax |
| Momjian et al. 2 | 15 | 10 (7 months–15 years) | • MVA (4) • Pedestrian struck by vehicle (5) • Head injury (6) including 1. Fell off a donkey and was dragged 2. Skiing accident 3. Fell from a height 4. Trampoline accident 5. Father fell on head of child |
• Depressed consciousness or LOC (10) • GCS 13, 11, 8, 6, 5, 3 • Neck pain (2) • Torticollis/rigid neck (3) • Cranial nerve injury (3) • CN 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 • Limb paresis (3) |
• Brain stem hemorrhage • C1 fracture • Brainstem hematoma • Hydrocephalus • Subarachnoid hemorrhage with hematoma • Cerebral edema • Frontal intracranial hemorrhage • Right lower limb fracture • Spinal cord contusion • “Multiple organ injury” • Mandible, forearm, rib, arm fractures • Pulmonary contusion • Diffuse axonal injury • Hepatic laceration • Aspiration pneumonia |
| Strehle and Tolinov 5 | 1 | 6 | Pedestrian struck by vehicle | • Anterograde amnesia • Nausea/vomiting • Neck pain |
• Occipital bone fracture |
| Tomaszewski et al. 4 | 6 | 15.83 (14.7–18) | • MVA (3) • Pedestrian struck by vehicle (1) • Fall from height (1) • Bike accident (1) |
Not stated | • Frontal bone fracture • Frontal sinus fracture • Frontal bone contusion • Lung contusion • Brain concussion pneumothorax • Neurogenic vocal cord injury • Aphasia • Subdural hematoma • Nasal bone fracture • Subarachnoid hemorrhage • Th3–5 transverse process fracture • Radial fracture • Orbit fracture • Maxillary sinus fracture |
| Ucler and Yucetas 19 | 1 | 16 | MVA | • Neck pain • Hypoglossal nerve injury (day 3 post-injury) |
None |
| Wasserberg and Bartlett 20 | 1 | 16 | MVA | Not stated | “Multiple injuries” with traumatic brain injury |
| Peeters and Verbeeten 21 | 1 | 17 | MVA | • Neck pain • Stiff neck/torticollis |
Mandibular fracture |
GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale; MVA: motor vehicle accident; LOC: loss of consciousness; CN: cranial nerve.