The clinical features of traumatic subdural hematomas in children

Abstract

Objective To discuss the clinical features of traumatic subdural hematomas in children. Methods One hundred and sixty-six children with traumatic subdural hematomas managed in the previous six years were retrospectively reviewed. Results Children with traumatic subdural hematomas took the proportion of 15% of all head injury and 31.6% of intracranial hematomas in children in the same period. About 42.2% patients were neonates or infants. The primary causes of head injury were in the order of birth injury, accidental falls, road accident and violence. Most hematomas were located at the supra tentoriurn of cerebellum, with the symptoms of headache, vomiting, conscious disturbance, epilepsy and local symptom in nervous system. Patients with surgical indications took 24.7% among all cases. The operations included craniotomy and burr hole drainage. Conclusions Conservative treatment can be used for most cases of traumatic subdural hematomas in children. Surgical indications are conscious disturbance, defection of nervous system, and large hematomas found on CT scan. Most patients completely recovered with timely treatment. Key words: Child; Head injuries; Subdural hematoma