• B Fischer and J Wit.
• Kinderchirurgische Klinik, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus-Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. b.fischer@charite.de
• Unfallchirurg. 2007 Mar 1; 110 (3): 226-32.

BackgroundThe controversial situation relating to assessment and management of the traumatic head injury (THI) in children inspired us to study our own patient pool. The aims were to find a significant correlation between skull fracture or clinical symptom and intracranial lesion as well as to determine the importance of each radiological diagnostic method in the initial management of the pediatric THI.Patients And MethodsIn 1 year 1,637 children had been treated in the emergency room of pediatric surgery with the diagnosis of THI. Age, sex, injury pattern, symptoms, radiological diagnostic methods, diagnosis, and clinical follow-up had been registered.ResultsA significant correlation between skull fracture or clinical symptom and the intracranial injury in children could not be found, but risk factors exist. Cranial computed tomography is the imaging method of choice. X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI of the head are reserved for a few indications.ConclusionA management plan for pediatric head and brain injury in the emergency room based on our own and published international results is introduced.

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