Acute Computer Tomography Findings in Pediatric Accidental Head Trauma-Review

Abstract

Head trauma in paediatric patients is a worldwide and constant issue. It is the number one cause for childhood mortality and morbidity. Children of all ages are susceptible to sustaining head trauma and the anatomical characteristics of the region put them in a high-risk category for developing severe traumatic brain injuries. Boys are more frequently victims of accidental head traumas, and their injuries are more severe than those encountered in girls. The mechanisms of the trauma are a determining factor for the types of lesions we find. The traumatic injuries fall into two categories, primary and secondary. Primary traumatic injuries can be severe and life threatening, and their presence needs to be documented in order to set the correct therapeutic conduct. Due to their importance, this pictorial review focuses on them and the images used herein are selected from the database of our hospital. It is important to distinguish each of the different injuries that can be encountered. At the same time, radiologists are advised to remember that for children up to five years of age, some non-accidental imaging findings may appear to coincide with those found in accidental head trauma.

Keywords:

• paediatric accidental head trauma
• traumatic brain injury
• epidural haematoma
• subdural haematoma
• traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage
• haemorrhagic cortical contusions

Abbreviations

CT, computer tomography; DAI, Diffuse axonal injury; EDH, Epidural haematoma; HU, Hounsfield units; ICH, Intracerebral haemorrhage; IVH, Intraventricular haematomas; HCC, Haemorrhagic cortical contusions; NECT, non enhanced computer tomography scans; TBI, Traumatic brain injury; tSAH, Traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage; SDH, Subdural haematoma; VI, Vascular injuries.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Clinical Emergency Hospital, Galati, Romania. (Project identification code: 4579/14.11.2023).

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.