Abstract
Over a 2-year period 857 children were admitted to hospital with head injuries, representing 16% of all admissions—73% of all children with injury—and occupying 3727 bed-days. Operation was required in 6% of cases, 1·5% were left with residual neurological deficit, and 1·5% died. The epidemiology is presented in detail and it is noted that 66% of admissions occurred when medical and ancillary staff on immediate duty were limited. A more selective approach to the timing and taking of skull x-rays is urged. The retention of British Standard Time (one hour fast on G.M.T., darker mornings) through the winter did not increase the number of admissions due to head injury.
Full text
PDFSelected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BACKETT E. M., JOHNSTON A. M. Social patterns of road accidents to children; some characteristics of vulnerable families. Br Med J. 1959 Feb 14;1(5119):409–413. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5119.409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BARR J. B., RALSTON G. J. HEAD INJURIES IN A PERIPHERAL HOSPITAL. A FIVE-YEAR SURVEY. Lancet. 1964 Sep 5;2(7358):519–522. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)90470-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BURKINSHAW J. Head injuries in children. Observations on their incidence and causes with an enquiry into the value of routine skull x-rays. Arch Dis Child. 1960 Jun;35:205–214. doi: 10.1136/adc.35.181.205. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bell R. S., Loop J. W. The utility and futility of radiographic skull examination for trauma. N Engl J Med. 1971 Feb 4;284(5):236–239. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197102042840504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Burkinshaw J. Head injuries in children. Br Med J. 1972 Feb 5;1(5796):378–379. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5796.378-e. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Craft A. W., Shaw D. A., Cartlidge N. E. Head injuries in children. Br Med J. 1972 Oct 28;4(5834):200–203. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5834.200. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Galbraith S. L. Age-distribution of extradural haemorrhage without skull fracture. Lancet. 1973 Jun 2;1(7814):1217–1218. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90529-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Griffith J. F., Dodge P. R. Transient blindness following head injury in children. N Engl J Med. 1968 Mar 21;278(12):648–651. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196803212781203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HARRIS P. Head injuries in childhood. Arch Dis Child. 1957 Dec;32(166):488–491. doi: 10.1136/adc.32.166.488. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hendrick E. B., Harwood-Hash D. C., Hudson A. R. Head injuries in children: a survey of 4465 consecutive cases at the hospital for sick children, Toronto, Canada. Clin Neurosurg. 1964;11:46–65. doi: 10.1093/neurosurgery/11.cn_suppl_1.46. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jennett B. Head injuries in children. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1972 Apr;14(2):137–147. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1972.tb02571.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jennett B. Trauma as a cause of epilepsy in childhood. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1973 Feb;15(1):56–62. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1973.tb04866.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Klonoff H., Robinson G. C. Epidemiology of head injuries in children: a pilot study. Can Med Assoc J. 1967 May 13;96(19):1308–1311. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lewin W. Severe head injuries. Proc R Soc Med. 1967 Nov;60(11 Pt 2):1208–1211. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MACIVER I. N., LASSMAN L. P., THOMSON C. W., McLEOD I. Treatment of severe head injuries. Lancet. 1958 Sep 13;2(7046):544–550. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(58)90194-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MATSON D. D. Craniocerebral trauma in childhood. Am J Surg. 1961 May;101:677–683. doi: 10.1016/0002-9610(61)90280-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mackay G. M. Some features of traffic accidents. Br Med J. 1969 Dec 27;4(5686):799–801. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5686.799. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Miller J. D., Jennett W. B. Complications of depressed skull fracture. Lancet. 1968 Nov 9;2(7576):991–995. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)91293-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PARTINGTON M. W. The importance of accident-proneness in the aetiology of head injuries in childhood. Arch Dis Child. 1960 Jun;35:215–223. doi: 10.1136/adc.35.181.215. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- READ J. H., BRADLEY E. J., MORISON J. D., LEWALL D., CLARKE D. A. THE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILD PEDESTRIANS. Can Med Assoc J. 1963 Oct 5;89:687–701. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RICKHAM P. P. Head injuries in childhood. Helv Chir Acta. 1961 Sep;28:560–575. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ROWBOTHAM G. F., MACIVER I. N., DICKSON J., BOUSFIELD M. E. Analysis of 1,400 cases of acute injury to the head. Br Med J. 1954 Mar 27;1(4864):726–730. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.4864.726. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Roberts F., Shopfner C. E. Plain skull roentgenograms in children with head trauma. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1972 Feb;114(2):230–240. doi: 10.2214/ajr.114.2.230. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]