Scot Med J
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Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in childhood. A retrospective study of all paediatric head injuries admitted to the neurosurgical unit for the West of Scotland over a 10-year period was performed to assess the impact of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence head injury guidelines on the admission rate and to determine the associated risk factors, causes, severity and outcomes of these injuries. There were 564 admissions between 1998 and 2007. ⋯ There was no change in the admission rate, injury mechanism or severity of head injury admitted over the period studied. A relationship was observed between the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation Score and the incidence of head injury (P = 0.05). Alcohol was reported as a causative factor in only a small number of cases, and moderate to severe head injuries were more commonly identified as a result of road traffic accidents.
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Forearm fractures are common paediatric injuries. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and treatment of paediatric forearm fractures in the urban population of Glasgow. We reviewed all forearm fractures treated by the orthopaedic service in Yorkhill Children's Hospital in 2008 up to the age of 13 years. ⋯ This study identifies some features which are in agreement with studies from elsewhere in Britain. However, there are also interesting differences, such as the Glasgow peak incidence for forearm fractures being at age eight, with a marked decline by 12 years. Furthermore, our findings have been extended to consideration of type of intervention and likelihood of successful treatment.