Mild traumatic brain injuries in children between 0–16 years of age: A survey of activities and places when an accident occurs

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify what activities cause most mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) among boys and girls between 0–16 years of age.

Methods: Based on a randomized controlled study, a retrospective analysis was conducted among 765 children.

Result: The most common causes of injury were falls from a height and falls from the same level. The most common place where the accident occurred was at ‘home’ followed by ‘pre-school/school’. The highest incidence was ‘play’ followed by ‘hit by another person’, thereafter ‘baby nursing’. Boys are more often injured than girls, but with no difference between boys and girls in terms of which activities that cause MTBI.

Conclusion: Supervision during play at home as well as better designed schoolyards and playgrounds are required to prevent accidents. Furthermore, well-documented medical records are necessary to identify activities causing MTBI among children.

• Epidemiology
• injury
• occupational therapy
• occurrence
• playgrounds
• prevention