Wang H, et al. - Researchers designed this study to assess the epidemiological features of child and adolescent (≤18 years old) patients managed for traumatic skull fractures (TSKFs) and associated traumatic brain injury (TBI). They recognized motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) as the most common etiologies. The most common fractures were parietal and basilar skull fractures; epidural hemorrhages were the most common intracranial hemorrhages.

Methods

• From January 2003 to December 2010, researchers included 393 patients (children and adolescent) who had TSKFs admitted to the university affiliated hospitals.
• Based on different age group, admission time and etiology, the incidence and patterns were summarized.

Results

• MVCs (166, 42.2%) and high fall (101, 25.7%) were identified as the most common etiologies.
• Parietal fractures (n = 111, 28.2%) and basilar skull fracture (n = 111, 28.2%) were the most common skull fracture sites.
• Researchers noticed TBI in a total of 300 (76.3%) patients and OCI in 23 (5.9%) patients.
• Epidural hemorrhage (n = 94, 23.9%) was identified as the most common intracranial hemorrhage.
• In this study, the frequencies of emergency admission, medical insurance and associated injuries were 56.2% (n = 221), 22.4% (n = 88) and 37.2% (n = 146).
• With age, a significant increase in frequencies of TBI (from 53.45% to 76.3%) and associated injuries (from 6.9% to 41.6%) was observed.