Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and adolescents is a community-based medical and educational challenge world-over due to increasing urbanization and motorization. In India, children between 1 to 15 years constitute significant proportion of the total population, who are vulnerable for TBI. In developed countries, pediatric trauma mortality still represents more than half of all childhood fatalities, which is 18 times more common than brain tumors. In this study, we attempted to analyze epidemiological factors, management, and outcome of TBI in children at a tertiary care center in Pune, Maharashtra. ⋯ Most of these injuries are preventable in infancy and childhood by ensuring proper vigilance, tender care by the parents and the caretakers. Safe driving techniques have to be followed by parents while traveling with children in their motor vehicles. Need to focus on grading the severity of TBI rather than on factors like age, mode of injury, and presence or absence of external injuries.
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Spinal epidural hematomas are uncommon in children. The diagnosis can be elusive as most cases present without a history of trauma, while symptoms can be atypical. ⋯ We emphasize the frequent absence of identifiable trauma and the importance of thorough imaging when this entity is suspected. Miosis and ptosis, likely representing a partial Horner syndrome, is an extremely rare presentation, this being one of the only reported cases.