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To compare the efficacy of mannitol, the first choice of treatment in daily clinical practice for head trauma, and sugammadex, a frequently used neuroanesthesia in recent years. A total of 35 male rats were randomly selected and were divided into 5 groups, each comprising 7 rats. The groups were divided into Group I, sham (n = 7); Group II, control (head trauma, n = 7); Group III, treated with mannitol (head trauma, mannitol 20% 1 g/kg, n = 7); Group IV, treated with sugammadex (head trauma, sugammadex 100 mg/kg, n = 7); and Group V, treated with mannitol and sugammadex (head trauma, mannitol 20% 1 g/kg and sugammadex 100 mg/kg, n = 7). After the sacrification, histological examination and immunohistochemical staining were performed in the brain of all subjects. Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate the significance between neuronal density, neuronal nuclei, and activated caspase-3 immunohistochemistry results measured from the prefrontal cortex. Neuronal density showing neuronal viability was observed to significantly increase in Group III compared to Group IV. However, neuronal nuclei immunohistochemistry showing apoptotic neurons also significantly increased. The present study has shown that sugammadex, an agent reversing the effects of neuromuscular blocking agents, has neuroprotective effects and is as effective as mannitol.

INTRODUCTION The use of simulation to develop clinical reasoning and medical decision-making skills for common events is poorly established. Validated head trauma rules help identify children at low risk for clinically important traumatic brain injury and guide the need for neuroimaging. We predicted that interns trained using a high-fidelity, immersive simulation would understand and apply these rules better than those trained using a case-based discussion. Our primary outcomes were to determine the effectiveness of a single targeted intervention on an intern's ability to learn and apply the rules. METHODS This was a prospective randomized controlled trial. Interns were randomized to participate in either a manikin-based simulation or a case discussion. Knowledge and application of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network Head Trauma tool were assessed both under testing conditions using standardized vignettes and in clinical encounters. In both settings, interns completed a validated assessment tool to test their knowledge and application of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network Head Trauma tool when assessing patients with head injury. RESULTS Under testing conditions, both being in the simulation group and shorter time from training were independently associated with higher score under testing conditions using standardized vignettes (P = 0.038 and P < 0.001), but not with clinical encounters. CONCLUSIONS Interns exposed to manikin-based simulation training demonstrated performance competencies that are better than those in the case discussion group under testing conditions using standardized vignettes, but not in real clinical encounters. This study suggests that information delivery and comprehension may be improved through a single targeted simulation-based education.

Objective This study aimed to assess the long-term recurrence rate and correlations between recurrence and potential risk factors in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Design A total of 548 consecutive patients who demonstrated typical posterior or horizontal BPPV between January 2010 and December 2012 were included in this prospective study. All patients were contacted by phone every 6 months for 5 years and were asked to revisit the clinic when they experienced positional vertigo to be reexamined for recurrence. Recurrence of BPPV was defined as having positional vertigo and nystagmus confirmed following a symptom-free period of at least 7 days after complete resolution. We assessed the 5-year recurrence rate of BPPV, and the time point of recurrence in all patients as well as the risk factors of BPPV recurrence, including the clinical characteristics, therapeutic results of BPPV, and various comorbidities. Results Among the 548 patients, 121 (22.1 %) had at least one recurrence. Of these, 78 patients (54.5%) had only one recurrence within 5 years, while 43 (45.5%) patients experienced two or more recurrences. A recurrence occurred within 1 year in 82 patients (67.8%). The Cox proportional hazard ratio analysis found that head trauma (p = 0.015), Meniere's disease (p = 0.016), the number of canalith repositioning procedures performed (p = 0.037), and the number of previous vertigo attacks (p = 0.038) were significant risk factors of BPPV recurrence as opposed to hypertension or hyperlipidemia. Conclusions The recurrence rate of BPPV was 22.1% at 5 years after the initial treatment. About 70% of recurred patients had a recurrence within 1 year. Head trauma, ipsilateral Meniere's disease, the number of canalith repositioning procedures performed, and the number of previous vertigo attacks were significant risk factors of BPPV recurrence.

Objective: Piriform aperture, paranasal sinuses, and the cranium dimensions were compared with each other and we investigated the alterations depending on the age and gender in these structures. Before the endoscopic sinus surgery, anatomic variations in sinusoidal region and the occurring differences should be considered. The detection of these variations plays important roles in the prevention of complications which may happen in surgery or in obtaining a successful surgical result. Materials and Methods: Piriform aperture maximum width, frontal sinuses, sphenoidal sinuses, maxillary sinuses, and craniumwidths and height length was measured from the regions that we were determined. Three hundred ninety three cases'computed tomography images were compared. The individuals without any head trauma, pathology, and surgical history in sinusoidal region were analyzed retrospectively. The detected measurements were studied among the paranasal sinuses, piriform aperture, and calvaria dimensions. Results: It was observed that the dimensions of paranasal sinuses were decreased and the dimension of piriform aperture was increased depending on age. In all individuals, a relationship in positive direction in a manner that piriform aperture width increases as the size of the cranium width increases. Morphologic alterations take place in the dimensions of paranasal sinuses as a result of bone deformations occurring in the bone structure depending age and gender in adult individuals.

OBJECTIVES Electric scooter (e-scooter) use and resulting injuries have grown exponentially since expansion into ridesharing in 2017. No study has described pediatric e-scooter injuries and focused on their impact in an adolescent cohort. Our primary purpose was to describe the epidemiology of admitted pediatric e-scooter injuries and compare them with existing literature on adults. METHODS We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for e-scooter injuries between 2015 and 2019 in patients 0-18 years old. Injuries caused by an e-scooter to a nonrider were removed. Patients admitted to the hospital were analyzed and weighted national estimates were calculated. A P value of

Parosmia, defined as the distorted perception of an odor stimulus, has been reported to be associated with head trauma, upper respiratory tract infections, sinonasal diseases, and toxin/drug consumption. To date, little is known about parosmia in right-lateralized semantic variant primary progressive aphasia. A 60-year-old right-handed man presented with a 2-year history of parosmia and prosopagnosia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated severe atrophy of the right anterior and mesial temporal lobe, particularly in the fusiform cortex and the regions known as the primary olfactory cortex. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose position emission tomography showed asymmetric hypometabolism of the bilateral temporal lobes (right > left). We clinically diagnosed him with right-lateralized semantic variant primary progressive aphasia. As the right hemisphere is known to be more involved in the processing of pleasant odors than the left hemisphere, we speculate that the unique manifestation of parosmia observed in this patient might be associated with the lateralization of the olfactory system.

Objectives Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a very common and serious form of physical abuse, and a major cause of mortality and morbidity for young children. Early Recognition and supportive care of children with AHT is a common challenge in community emergency department (CEDs). We hypothesized that standardized, in situ simulation can be used to measure and compare the quality of resuscitative measures provided to children with AHT in a diverse set of CEDs. Methods This prospective, simulation-based study measured teams' performance across CEDs. The primary outcome was overall adherence to AHT using a 15-item performance assessment checklist based on the number of tasks performed correctly on the checklist. Results Fifty-three multiprofessional teams from 18 CEDs participated in the study. Of 270 participants, 20.7% were physicians, 65.2% registered nurses, and 14.1% were other providers. Out of all tasks, assessment of airway/breathing was the most successfully conducted task by 53/53 teams (100%). Although 43/53 teams (81%) verbalized the suspicion for AHT, only 21 (39.6%) of 53 teams used hyperosmolar agent, 4 (7.5%) of 53 teams applied cervical spine collar stabilization, and 6 (11.3%) of 53 teams raised the head of the bed. No significant difference in adherence to the checklist was found in the CEDs with an inpatient pediatric service or these with designated adult trauma centers compared with CEDs without. Community emergency departments closer to the main academic center outperformed CEDs these that are further away. Conclusions This study used in situ simulation to describe quality of resuscitative care provided to an infant presenting with AHT across a diverse set of CEDs, revealing variability in the initial recognition and stabilizing efforts and provided and targets for improvement. Future interventions focusing on reducing these gaps could improve the performance of CED providers and lead to improved patient outcomes.

Head trauma is one of the most common reasons for pediatric emergency medicine department (PED) visits. Computerized tomography (CT) scan is considered the criterion standard for the diagnosis of traumatic brain injury but was shown to increases the risk of malignancies.We retrospectively analyzed collected data of all children (ages 0-16 years) experiencing mild head trauma who were admitted to a single center, from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2015. Comparison between patients treated by pediatricians/pediatric emergency medicine physicians (PEMP) with those treated by surgeons regarding CT rates and prognosis was done.During the previously mentioned period, 4232 children presented to the PED after minor head trauma, the average age was 5.4 (±4) years and 67.1% were male. Head CT was done in 7.7%, of which 30.7% had positive findings. Younger children tended to have higher percentage of positive findings on CT scan (60%, 43.8%, 26.6%, P = 0.003, for children up to 5 months, 5-24 months, and older than 24 months, respectively). Pediatricians ordered less CT scans when compared with surgeons (5.4% vs 8.5%, P0.001). Moreover, they had higher rates of positive findings on CT scan (52.5% vs 25.8%, P0.001). When all other characteristics were similar, if the case manager was a pediatrician, the patient's chances to undergo a CT scan were 4.3 times lower than if the case manager was a surgeon (odds ratio, 4.277; confidence interval, 2.274-7.104). No difference in readmissions or other complications were found between the 2 groups.This study highlights that when the case manager of children with minor head trauma is a pediatrician/PEMP, CT scan rates and thus exposure to radiation are diminished without a failure to detect clinically important traumatic brain injury.In conclusion, our findings suggest that when possible, all children experiencing minor head trauma should be treated by a pediatrician/PEMP in the PED.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to characterize differences in facial fracture injury patterns among pediatric patients at highest risk of abusive head trauma/nonaccidental trauma (age ≤ 5 years). METHODS Using the National Trauma Databank from 2007 to 2015, patients (age ≤ 5 years) suffering facial fractures were included. Demographics and injury characteristics were compared between those sustaining accidental versus nonaccidental trauma (NAT). RESULTS Over 9 years 9741 patients were included with 193 patients (2.0%) suffering NAT. Nonaccidental trauma patients were younger (median [interquartile range]; 0 [0, 2] versus 3 [1, 4], P

ObjectiveTo examine the longitudinal health care resource utilization, in-hospital mortality, and incidence of downstream complications of bacterial meningitis in the United States.MethodsUsing IBM MarketScan, we retrieved data on adult patients with a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis admitted to a US hospital between 2008 and 2015. Patients were stratified into groups (1) with/without prior head trauma/neurosurgical complications, (2) nosocomial/community acquisition, and (3) Gram-negative/positive bacteria. Cost data were collected for up to 2 years and analyzed with descriptive statistics and longitudinal modeling.ResultsAmong 4,496 patients with bacterial meningitis, 16.5% and 4.6% had preceding neurosurgical complications and head injuries, respectively. Lumbar punctures were performed in 37.3% of patients without prior trauma/complications who went on to develop nosocomial meningitis, and those with prior head injuries or complications had longer initial hospital stays (17.0 days vs 8.0 days). Within a month of diagnosis, 29.2% of patients with bacterial meningitis had experienced downstream complications, most commonly hydrocephalus (12.7%). The worst 30-day mortality was due to tuberculous (12.3%) and streptococcal meningitis (7.2%). Overall, prior head trauma and complications were associated with higher costs. Community-acquired bacterial meningitis had lower median baseline costs relative to the nosocomial group (no head trauma/complication: $17,152 vs $82,778; head trauma/complication: $92,428 vs $168,309) but higher median costs within 3 months of diagnosis (no head trauma/complication: $47,911 vs $34,202; head trauma/complication: $89,207 vs $58,947). All costs demonstrated a sharp decline thereafter.ConclusionsBacterial meningitis remains costly and devastating, especially for those who experience traumatic head injuries or have a complicated progress after neurosurgery.

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is the most common cause of euvolemic hyponatremia, and many disorders have been associated with it. Baroreflex failure is a rare disorder characterized by extreme blood pressure (BP) fluctuations, most frequently caused by neck or head trauma and irradiation. We report a case of a 48-year-old patient referred to our department for asymptomatic hyponatremia and volatile hypertension. His past medical history included nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with surgery and bilateral neck radiation. Following the diagnostic algorithm for hyponatremia, the diagnosis of SIADH was made. Ambulatory BP monitoring revealed highly variable BP; extensive autonomic nervous system function testing suggested baroreflex-cardiovagal failure. We propose the hypothesis that not only labile hypertension because of baroreflex failure but also hyponatremia can develop as a late consequence of neck trauma and irradiation.

Background Isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is rarely encountered after mild traumatic brain injury. It is difficult to offer patients accurate management strategies or prognostic assessments because only a few reports have described the management of oculomotor nerve palsy. Methods We performed a search for all clinical studies of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy after mild traumatic brain injury published up to July 9, 2019. We placed no restrictions on language or year of publication in our search, and we searched the following key words: traumatic brain injury, isolated oculomotor nerve palsy, mild head trauma, management, and prognosis. Results We identified 14 cases of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy after mild traumatic brain injury. In three cases, steroids were used to manage the oculomotor nerve palsy. Five patients who had underlying brain lesions underwent surgery, and seven patients were observed and followed up. The time to partial or complete resolution was 6.0 ± 5.3 mos with a range of 0.5-18 mos. Conclusions This review includes a survey of surgical treatment for the management of traumatic brain injury that underlies oculomotor nerve palsies, steroid therapy to reduce related brain edema, and oculomotor rehabilitation with training eye movement behavior.

Several treatment options have been suggested for the treatment of scalp defects that occur following head trauma. Growth changes should be considered, especially for children. The authors report a case of delayed cranial bone absorption after successful free latissimus dorsi flap coverage following skull grinding injury in a pediatric patient.A 3-year-old patient was referred to the reconstructive surgery department because of a 7 × 8 cm-sized scalp defect in the temporoparietal area due to dragging and grinding injury. Debridement and free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap coverage with split-thickness skin graft were performed. The operation was successful and antibiotics were administered for 4 weeks to prevent the occurrence of osteomyelitis (OM). The patient was discharged after confirming the absence of OM via magnetic resonance imaging.Thinning of cranial bone was observed in the skull series taken one year postoperatively. The size gradually increased, but no significant changes in size occurred after 5 years of patient's age. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed used to confirm the occurrence of OM and no specific findings were observed. It is well-known fact that the cranium grows to 90% of its adult capacity by the age of 5. In this regard, we believe that the current case and the demonstrated cranial thinning is due to bone absorption associated with the growth.In the pediatric population, injuries involving the cranial vault should be considered in the context of bone resorption due to skull growth, which may lead to cranial bone thinning. Reconstructive surgeons should closely observe the presence or absence of skull defects through long-term follow-ups.

Intraocular findings are well known and well documented in child abuse cases. However, eye deviation on physical examination can also be just as important in evaluating a child for maltreatment. We present 2 cases of infants younger than 6 months who presented to the emergency department with new-onset abnormal eye deviation, and further evaluation revealed other findings consistent with nonaccidental trauma. These cases were ruled as abusive head trauma and demonstrate the importance of conducting a thorough evaluation for any acute-onset ophthalmological and neurological finding.

Background Head trauma is a common reason for evaluation in the emergency department. The evaluation for traumatic brain injury involves computed tomography, exposing children to ionizing radiation. Skull fractures are associated with intracranial bleed. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can diagnose skull fractures. Objectives We performed a systematic review/meta-analysis to determine operating characteristics of POCUS skull studies in the diagnosis of fractures in pediatric head trauma patients. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies of emergency department pediatric head trauma patients. Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 was used to evaluate risk of bias. Point-of-care ultrasound skull study operating characteristics were calculated and pooled using Meta-DiSc. Results Six studies of 393 patients were selected with a weighted prevalence of 30.84%. Most studies were at low risk of bias. The pooled sensitivity (91%) and specificity (96%) resulted in pooled positive likelihood ratio (14.4) and negative likelihood ratio (0.14). Using the weighted prevalence of skull fractures across the studies as a pretest probability (31%), a positive skull ultrasound would increase the probability to 87%, whereas a negative test would decrease the probability of a skull fracture to 6%. To achieve a posttest probability of a skull fracture of ~2% would require a negative skull ultrasound in a patient with only a pretest probability of ~15%. Conclusions A POCUS skull study significantly increases the probability of skull fracture, whereas a negative study markedly decreases the probability if the pretest probability is very low.

Background: In the past decade, accidents have been one of the top 10 causes of death in Taiwan. Head trauma caused by accidents has been an issue of concern in Taiwan. Although serious long-term effects have been documented, research on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) remains scarce. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to analyze post-concussion symptome (PCS) and the relevant impact on physical, emotional, and cognitive functions. Materials and Methods: During 2012–2013, 105 patients with mTBI in a single hospital were surveyed based on the Rivermead postconcussion symptoms questionnaire in 1 week, and their postinjury status was followed 1 month later. The collected data were analyzed using the paired t-test and descriptive statistics. Results: The collected data were included patient demographics and pretrauma risk factors. A total of 101 patients were subject to mTBI. The rate increased among males and the population aged from 21 to 44 years old. The most common cause of injury was the motorcycle accident, where half of the patients had an initial loss of consciousness and posttraumatic amnesia. Partial resolution of symptoms was noted within 1 month for all participants, but some symptoms persisted (P < 0.0001). In general, patients (especially females) recovered faster from physical impairment. The analysis provides information about the impacts and shows the increased risk of neurocranial traumas related to mTBI. Conclusion: This study presents patients' PCS symptoms in different periods. Those symptoms improved gradually in 1 month, but some symptoms persisted, especially those affecting emotional and cognitive functions. Most patients in this study were young, and the illness had impact on the patients' daily life. As shown by the results, the risk factors were associated with prolonged PCS among females. Aside from physical symptoms, special attention should be paid to mental care as well. More predictors for mTBI may improve medical care quality and reduce losses of medical resources.

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of fast brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of intra- and extra-axial intracranial hemorrhage compared with standard-of-care computed tomography (CT) or MRI in pediatric patients. Unlike previous studies, we did not focus exclusively on patients with head trauma. We evaluated the fast brain MRI findings in a general pediatric population referred for indications other than evaluation of ventricular size. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 48 pediatric patients with indications other than hydrocephalus and shunt follow-up, who underwent a standard head CT or standard MRI within 15 days of the fast brain MRI. All fast brain MRI scans included half-Fourier acquisition with single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) sequences in the axial, coronal, and sagittal plane. Two neuroradiologists blinded to patient information and study indications reviewed the fast brain MRI studies independently and then concurrently. Results A total of 48 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The median and mean time interval between the standard and fast imaging were 2 and 3.9 days, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of fast brain MRI to detect intraparenchymal hemorrhage were 100% and 97%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of fast brain MRI in the detection of extra-axial hemorrhage (subdural and/or epidural) were 86% and 96%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of fast brain MRI were, respectively, 10% and 100% for subarachnoid hemorrhage, 50% and 100% for intraventricular hemorrhage, and 47% and 97% for skull fracture, respectively. Conclusions Our results show that fast brain MRI with HASTE sequence is as sensitive as CT and standard MRI in the detection of intra-axial hemorrhage and has moderate sensitivity in the detection of extra-axial hemorrhage. Our preliminary results show that T2-weighted HASTE imaging may be suitable for the follow-up of intraparenchymal and extra-axial (subdural and/or epidural) hemorrhages.

In their article “Acute elevation of serum inflammatory markers predicts symptom recovery after concussion,” Nitta and coauthors1 studied the connection between inflammation and head trauma. More specifically, they looked at the connection between inflammation and mild brain injury in American football players.

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical course and treatment outcomes for patients with petrous apex epidermoid with skull base erosion. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. SETTING Tertiary-care academic center. PATIENTS Patients surgically managed for petrous apex epidermoids at a single-tertiary care institution from 2001 to 2017. INTERVENTIONS Surgical management of primary petrous apex epidermoids. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The presenting symptoms, imaging, pre- and postoperative clinical course, and complications were reviewed. RESULTS Seven patients were identified. The most common presenting symptoms included: sudden sensorineural hearing loss (n = 3), headaches (n = 1), vertigo (n = 2), and facial paralysis/paresis (n = 2). An epidermoid was discovered in two patients as an incidental finding after a head trauma and one patient after admission for altered mental status and meningitis. Two patients presented with complete facial paralysis (House-Brackmann 6/6). Preoperative normal hearing (pure-tone average < 25 db) was identified in three patients and serviceable hearing (pure-tone average 25-60 dB) in one patient. Three patients with nonserviceable hearing underwent a transcochlear or transotic approach. The remaining four patients underwent an attempted hearing preservation approach. Postoperatively, one patient developed delayed facial paralysis, improving within 3 months. Hearing was preserved in three patients. Two patients developed recurrence of disease within 4 and 7 years respectively. CONCLUSIONS Surgical management of aggressive petrous apex epidermoid is effective to preserve facial function and prevent recurrence. In our series different surgical approaches were used with variable outcomes.

Background Serious fall injuries are associated with poor outcomes among dialysis patients, but whether these associations hold in patients with a history of serious fall injury before kidney transplantation is unknown. Methods In national administrative data, 22 474 US adults receiving a first kidney transplant in 2011-2014 with at least 1 year of follow-up before transplant were identified. Serious fall injuries in the year before transplant were identified using diagnostic codes for falls and simultaneous fractures, dislocations, or head trauma in inpatient or outpatient claims. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to estimate associations of incident posttransplant outcomes with serious fall injury in the year before transplant. Results A total of 620 (2.8%) recipients had serious fall injuries before transplant and were more likely to be white, female, and have more comorbid conditions than those without a fall injury. Although posttransplant recipient survival did not differ by recent serious fall injuries (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-1.36), these injuries were associated with 33% higher rates of graft failure (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.03-1.72). Patients with serious fall injuries spent 12.1% of posttransplant follow-up hospitalized, a 3.3-fold higher rate than those without a fall, and had nearly 2-fold higher rates of skilled nursing facility utilization (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.52-2.57). Conclusions Serious fall injuries are independently associated with significantly greater resource requirements and lower graft survival. Further study is needed to delineate the relationship between falls and adverse outcomes in transplant and reduce the incidence and deleterious effects of these events.

BACKGROUND Abusive head trauma (AHT) peaks during early infancy and decreases in toddler years. Infants and toddlers experience different injuries, possibly impacting the risk of mortality. We aimed to evaluate the association of age with mortality. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of AHT hospitalizations in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012 from the Kid's Inpatient Claims Database. An accidental head trauma cohort was included to hypothesize that the association between age and mortality is unique to abuse. A nested multivariable logistic regression was used to perform the analysis. RESULTS Children aged 2 years to 4 years experienced higher mortality than those younger than 2 years (22% vs. 10%, p < 0.0001; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.2). The presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3-2.9), cerebral edema (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 2.9-5.4), and retinal hemorrhage (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5-2.5) were associated with an increase risk in mortality. Children younger than 2 years experienced more fractures and hemorrhage (subdural, subarachnoid, retinal) while children aged 2 years to 4 years encountered more internal injuries and cerebral edema.In children with accidental head trauma, those aged 2 years to 4 years have a lower mortality compared with those younger than 2 years (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3-0.6). Among children younger than 2 years, AHT and accidental trauma had comparable risk of mortality (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.6-1.3). However, among those aged 22 years to 4 years, AHT had a higher risk of mortality than accidental trauma (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.1-5.1). CONCLUSION There is a considerable risk of mortality associated with age at diagnosis in children with AHT.Children younger than 2 years and those aged 2 years to 4 years present with different types of injuries. The high risk of mortality in the children aged 2 years to 4 years is unique to AHT. Efforts should be made to increase awareness about the risk of mortality and identify factors that can aide in a timely accurate diagnosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and epidemiological study, level III.

To examine the prevalence of cervical spine injuries among children and adolescents referred with suspected and diagnosed sports-related concussion (SRC); and evaluate the effect of cervical spine dysfunction (CSD) on physician-documented clinical recovery following SRC.A multidisciplinary pediatric concussion program.A total of 266 patients (6-19 years) referred with suspected SRC.A retrospective cohort study.CSD defined as neurological symptoms localized to the cervical spine or the presence of neck pain, headache, or dizziness and abnormal cervical spine examination findings; physician-documented clinical recovery.One patient was diagnosed with a T1 compression fracture. Of the 246 patients diagnosed with SRC, 80 (32.5%) met the clinical criteria for CSD including 4 patients with central cord neuropraxia and 1 with a spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA). Excluding patients with central cord neuropraxia OR SCIWORA, patients with SRC with CSD took longer to achieve physician-documented clinical recovery (28.5 days vs 17 days, P.0001) and were 3.95 times more likely to experience delayed physician-documented clinical recovery (4 weeks postinjury) compared with those without CSD.Patients with suspected and diagnosed SRC can present with a wide spectrum of coincident cervical spine injuries. Cervical spine dysfunction may be a risk factor for delayed clinical recovery.

A 54-year-old man presented with unconsciousness for 2 hours after head trauma. Brain CT revealed vanished epidural hematoma and expanded subdural hematoma compared with brain CT performed 1 hour before (Figure). An operation plan to evacuate the left subdural hematoma and then the right subgaleal hematoma was made.1 However, respiratory and cardiac arrest occurred, accompanied by lasting hypotension, and blood test revealed acute disorders of coagulation and decreased platelets contraindicating surgery. He received conservative treatment and died 36 hours after trauma. Although rare, acute epidural hematoma total shifts into subgaleal hematoma could occur because of rapidly increased intracranial pressure in patients with coagulation disturbance.

We describe a diffusion tensor tractography-based diagnostic approach to traumatic axonal injury of the optic radiation in a patient who showed visual field defect after mild traumatic brain injury. A 43-yr-old female patient experienced head trauma during a motor vehicle accident. After the head trauma, she noticed visual disturbance. Peripheral field defects were detected in both eyes on the Humphrey visual field test. After diffusion tensor tractography-based reconstruction of the optic radiation, We determined the fractional anisotropy and fiber number of each whole optic radiation. Four regions of interest were placed on the optic radiations based on diffusion tensor tractography configuration. The right optic radiation showed narrowing, and the left optic radiation revealed partial tearing in the posterior portion. The fiber number of the right optic radiation was more than two standard deviations lower than the control mean. The fractional anisotropy values of the regions of interest 2 (the narrowed area of the right optic radiation) and regions of interest 3 (the partially torn area of the left optic radiation) were more than two standard deviations lower than the control mean. Our results suggest that analysis of the configuration and parameters of the optic radiation based on three-dimensionally reconstructed diffusion tensor tractography results is a useful technique in the detection of traumatic axonal injury of the optic radiation in individual patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Objective Audiometric outcomes following cochlear implantation (CI) in patients with temporal bone fracture (TBF) are variable and the pathophysiology is not well understood. Herein, we describe otopathologic findings in two such cases to provide insight into pathophysiology and outcomes. Patients Two patients had a history of head trauma resulting in bilateral TBF and sudden, profound, sensorineural hearing loss. Intervention Both cases underwent unilateral CI following head trauma. Main outcome measures Both TBs from each patient were harvested postmortem and histologically analyzed to determine fracture lines, intralabyrinthine fibroosseous changes, and spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) counts. Clinical histories and audiometric outcomes were also reviewed. Results In both cases, the implanted TB showed extensive intracochlear ossification, which was greater when fracture involved the cochlea. In contrast, the nonimplanted cochleae were patent with small osseous deposits at the round window membrane. Interaural SGN counts were lower on the implanted side and hearing results were moderate to poor. Conclusions Otopathologic analyses of patients with a CI after bilateral TBF are rare. Based on otopathology of two patients with bilateral TBF and subsequent CI, implanted TBs show extensive intracochlear fibroosseous changes greater than the nonimplanted side. Findings have implications for auditory rehabilitation after TBF.

Subgaleal hemorrhage is commonly described in the neonatal population but is a rare injury in young children and adolescents. Though infrequently seen, it can follow blunt head trauma or hair pulling. This case report details a 4-year-old African American boy with massive subgaleal hemorrhage and bilateral periorbital swelling and ecchymosis as a result of hair pulling in the setting of child physical abuse. The patient was evaluated in the emergency department for swelling of his scalp several hours after reportedly bumping his head on a chair. He was discharged home after a head computed tomography only confirmed soft tissue hematoma. The following morning, the findings progressed and he returned to the emergency department. He was triaged as a trauma and initially evaluated by the emergency physician, pediatric trauma surgeon, and pediatric neurosurgeon. Head computed tomography scan confirmed diffuse scalp edema without skull fracture or intracranial pathology. The child abuse specialty service was consulted for suspected child physical abuse. Their examination revealed numerous scattered bruises on the trunk and thighs, several of which were patterned. Local police investigation resulted in the patient's grandfather confessing to striking the patient with a belt and picking him up from the ground by his hair, the latter of which is a mechanism consistent with the patient's dramatic scalp and facial findings. The authors encourage consultation by a specialist in child abuse pediatrics for subgaleal hemorrhage and/or raccoon eyes in the presence of minor trauma, as well as thorough head-to-toe skin examination for all children presenting with injuries.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a form of inflicted head injury. AHT is more frequent in 2-year-old or younger children. It is an important cause of neurological impairment and the major cause of death from head trauma in this age group. Brain magnetic resonance imaging allows the depiction of retinal hemorrhages, injured bridging veins, and identifying and localizing extra- and intra-axial bleeds, contusions, lacerations, and strokes. The diagnosis of AHT is a multidisciplinary team effort which includes a careful evaluation of social, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings. Notwithstanding, the introduction in the current clinical practice of high-resolution techniques is adding forensic evidence to the recognition of AHT.

BACKGROUND Abusive head trauma (AHT) may result in costly, long-term sequelae. OBJECTIVE To describe the burden of AHT on the hospital system within the first year of injury. METHODS Single institution retrospective evaluation of AHT cases from January 2009 to August 2016. Demographic, clinical (including injury severity graded I-III), and charge data associated with both initial and return hospital visits within 1 yr of injury were extracted. RESULTS A total of 278 cases of AHT were identified: 60% male, 76% infant, and 54% African-American. Of these 278 cases, 162 (60%) returned to the hospital within the first year, resulting in 676 total visits (an average of 4.2 returns/patient). Grade I injuries were less likely to return than more serious injuries (II and III). The majority were outpatient services (n = 430, 64%); of the inpatient readmissions, neurosurgery was the most likely service to be involved (44%). Neurosurgical procedures accounted for the majority of surgeries performed during both initial admission and readmission (85% and 68%, respectively). Increasing injury severity positively correlated with charges for both the initial admission and returns (P

Background While deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits for head trauma are well understood, little is known about presentations in outpatient settings. Our objective was to examine the epidemiology and extent of healthcare-seeking adult (18-64 years) head trauma patients presenting in outpatient settings compared with patients receiving nonhospitalized emergency department care. Methods We used 2004-2013 MarketScan Medicaid/commercial claims to identify head trauma patients managed in outpatient settings (primary care provider, urgent care) and the emergency department. We examined differences in demographic and injury-specific factors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-defined head trauma diagnoses, and extent of and reasons for postindex visit ambulatory care use within 30/90/180 days by index visit location, as well as annual and monthly variations in head trauma trends. We used outpatient incidence rates to estimate the US nationwide outpatient burden. Results A total of 1.19 million index outpatient visits were included (emergency department: 348,659). Nationwide, they represented a weighted annual burden of 1.16 million index outpatient cases. These encompassed 46% of all known healthcare-seeking head trauma in 2013 (outpatient/emergency department/inpatient/fatalities) and increased in magnitude (+31%) from 2004 to 2013. One fourth (27%) of office/clinic visits led to diagnosis with concussion on index presentation (urgent care: 32%). Distributions of demographic factors varied with index visit location while injury-specific factors were largely comparable. Subsequent visits reflected high demand for follow-up treatment, increased concussive diagnoses, and sequelae-associated care. Conclusions Adult outpatient presentations of head trauma remain poorly understood. The results of this study demonstrate the extensive magnitude of their occurrence and close association with need for follow-up care.

Studies about head trauma are experimental or have a clinical or prognosis purpose. In this study, we used samples from human autopsies to answer common medical-legal questions.We studied 21 problem cases and 4 controls. Samples were obtained directly from the injured area, fixed in 10% formalin during 24 hours and then preserved in 70% ethanol. This procedure optimizes the immunohistochemical technique.The neurofilament antibody shows beaded axons since the first moment; over time, they increase their density and diameter as survival time also increases. These changes begin in the gray matter, 2 hours after trauma can be seen around vessels and in hemorrhagic areas. At 24 hours, beaded axons appear in the white mater, which finally loses its structure and cellular density.On the other hand, the β-amyloid precursor protein marker begins to be weakly seen 2 hours after injury. At 24 hours, a diffuse pattern can appear, suggesting primary traumatic injury. The marker reading keeps increasing until day 26, when a "Z" pattern appears in the white matter, suggesting secondary hypoxic injury.All these chronologic changes could be useful to approach the date of trauma. They let us to distinguish between long surviving cases from those whose death was immediate (within the first 30 minutes).

Abusive head trauma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children. Retinal hemorrhages (RHs) are frequently seen, particularly during dilated eye examination of these children. This review focuses on the evaluation of children with RH, with emphasis on the differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, and distinguishing features of RHs due to abusive head trauma. Many causes exist for RHs in infants and children. Most medical and accidental traumatic causes result in a pattern of RH that is nonspecific and not typical of the pattern and distribution of RHs seen in children with abusive head trauma. In children with intracranial hemorrhage and concerns for abuse, the finding of severe, multilayered RHs extending to the periphery of the retina is very specific for abuse as the cause of the findings, especially if retinoschisis is present. There are few other accidental traumatic mechanisms associated with retinoschisis, and the history of such a traumatic event is readily apparent. The indications for ophthalmologic consult, optimal timing of the eye examination, and significance of the findings are specifically discussed.

We report the recognition of a diagnosis of leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter, also known as vanishing white matter disease in an adolescent male patient after a sports-related concussion. The patient's atypical symptoms after the concussion led to imaging and subsequent neurological consultation. The objective of this clinical case is to highlight the importance of considering imaging in patients who present with atypical symptoms that may be present after a concussion and to raise awareness of this rare disorder which can present after head trauma.

Penetrating middle ear injury may cause hearing loss, vertigo, or facial nerve injury, although facial nerve paralysis followed by head trauma is a rare condition. In this study, we report a case of a 3-year-old patient with delayed facial palsy on the left side that developed 4 days after an accidental tympanic membrane perforation caused by a cotton-tipped swab. Otoendoscopic examination revealed a perforation in the posterosuperior quadrant of the tympanic membrane. Audiometry revealed no hearing loss on the injured side, and eye movement examination did not reveal spontaneous or positional nystagmus. Pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated high signal intensity along the tympanic portion of the fallopian canal, which suggested that hemorrhage within the facial canal may be a cause of delayed facial palsy. It can be assumed that traumatic injury at the dehiscent facial nerve in the tympanic portion caused hematoma within the fallopian canal, resulting in delayed facial nerve palsy.

The authors describe the case of a 19-year-old female who suffered posttraumatic emphysema of the optic nerve sheath. She suffered massive head trauma requiring emergent neurosurgery and was incidentally found to have air in her optic nerve sheath on CT scan. At 6 weeks follow up, her visual acuity (20/25 uncorrected) and color perception in the affected eye were excellent. Her examination was notable for an afferent pupillary defect, mild disc pallor, and optic nerve atrophy on optical coherence tomography. This is a case of a patient with posttraumatic optic nerve sheath emphysema who recovered excellent visual function and received follow-up ophthalmic imaging.

We aimed to characterize the utility of neuroimaging for head trauma in a suburban community hospital and determine whether imaging practices conform to most recent pediatric guidelines. The electronic medical record was surveyed for computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging head scans on patients aged 1 to 18 years who were evaluated for trauma. The query included the following: date, sex, type of scan (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), age, patient location, reason for scan, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (if entered), result, and text from physician's notes. A total of 2679 patients were identified. Within this cohort was a maximum of 29 surgical patients, of whom 8 required a surgical procedure but not neurosurgery among the 592 patients who had a GCS score of 14–15 entered, 2 were confirmed/possible neurosurgical patients, giving a neurosurgical rate of 0.34%. When the GCS 3–13 patient group was analyzed, the relative risk of requiring neurosurgery climbed to 52. Using an established algorithm for pediatric head trauma imaging would have reduced the number of scanned patients to 533. The individual cost of identifying the 29 surgical patients in our population exceeded $31,000. Our rate of serious lesions in GCS 14–15 patients was identical to a larger prospective study in urban teaching hospitals. Using their previously described algorithm might have reduced the number of patients scanned by more than 70% and saved close to $750,000 for the study period.

The MATTERs and CRASH-2 studies demonstrate that tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces mortality in patients with traumatic hemorrhage. However, their results, conducted in foreign countries and with U.S. military soldiers, provoke concerns over generalizability to civilian trauma patients in the United States was reported. The evaluation of patient outcomes following treatment with TXA by a civilian air medical program. A retrospective chart review of trauma patients transported by air service to a Level 1 trauma center was conducted. For the purposes of intervention evaluation, patients meeting this criterion for the 2 years (2012-2014) prior to therapy implementation were compared with patients treated during the 2-year study period (2014-2016). Goals were to evaluate morbidity, mortality, and length of stay. During the review, 82 control and 49 study patients were identified as meeting inclusion criteria. Patients in the control group were found to be less acute, which correlated with shorter hospital stays and better discharge outcomes. Multiple patients in the study group who should have expired according to a significantly elevated Trauma Revised Injury Severity Score (TRISS) survived, whereas multiple patients in the control group expired despite a low TRISS calculation. This is the first outcome-based study conducted in a U.S. trauma system. The outcomes in civilian trauma patients in the United States do not follow that of the previous MATTERs and CRASH-2 studies. However, this study still shows benefit to TXA administration and reduced risk for administration to patients with head trauma and occurrence of venous thromboembolism. Randomized control trials are needed to evaluate the role of TXA administration in the United States.

Telenursing is a suitable tool for increasing health-related awareness of the caregivers for a better home care. But its efficacy may be affected by several factors. Considering the important complications of head trauma injury and high rate of readmission, we aimed to assess the effect of telenursing on care provided by the family members of patients with head trauma.This randomized controlled trial investigated 72 patients with head trauma, who were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups (36 patients in each group). The caregivers in both groups were provided with 1-hr face-to-face training session on patients' home care and educational booklets. The patients in the intervention group were followed up every week through phone calls by the telenurse for 12 weeks, who recorded the patient's status, as well. Caregivers in the intervention group could call the telenurse any time they desired. The health status of the control group was followed once by a phone call after 12 weeks. Data on patients' readmission and pressure ulcer (based on Norton's scale) rate and time were compared between the groups and analyzed using SPSS software, version 19. Thirty-three patients with a mean ± SD age of 31.12 ± 10.83 years were studied in the control group and 35 patients with a mean ± SD age of 34.11 ± 12.34 years in the intervention group (p = .098). None of the patients in the intervention group were readmitted, whereas 2 patients in the control group were readmitted s(p = .139). Risk of pressure ulcer did not differ between the groups (p = .583). Telenursing had no significant effect in readmission and decubitus prevention for patients with head trauma. Considering the chronic nature of the illness, a longer follow-up period is deemed necessary for an accurate conclusion.

BACKGROUND The spectrum of injury severity for abusive head trauma (AHT) severity is broad, but outcomes are unequivocally worse than accidental trauma. There are few publications that analyze different outcomes of AHT. OBJECTIVE To determine variables associated with different outcomes of AHT. METHODS Patients were identified using our AHT database. Three different, but not mutually exclusive, outcomes of AHT were modeled: (1) death or hemispheric stroke (diffuse loss of grey-white differentiation); (2) stroke(s) of any size; and (3) need for a neurosurgical operation. Demographic and clinical variables were collected and correlations to the 3 outcomes of interest were identified using bivariate and multivariable analysis. RESULTS From January 2009 to December 2017, 305 children were identified through a prospectively maintained AHT database. These children were typically male (60%), African American (54%), and had public or no insurance (90%). A total of 29 children (9.5%) died or suffered a massive hemispheric stroke, 57 (18.7%) required a neurosurgical operation, and 91 (29.8%) sustained 1 or more stroke. Death or hemispheric stroke was statistically associated with the pupillary exam (odds ratio [OR] = 45.7) and admission international normalized ratio (INR) (OR = 17.3); stroke was associated with the pupillary exam (OR = 13.2), seizures (OR = 14.8), admission hematocrit (OR = 0.92), and INR (9.4), and need for surgery was associated with seizures (OR = 8.6). CONCLUSION We have identified several demographic and clinical variables that correlate with 3 clinically applicable outcomes of abusive head injury.

A 61-year-old man presented with rapidly progressive right eye vision loss, swelling, and pain, ptosis, and numbness of his right forehead that started 4 days prior to admission. His medical history included coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus with hospitalization a week prior to admission for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. He denied any tobacco, alcohol, or drug use, and there was no history of head trauma or recent travel.

BACKGROUND: Although morbidity and mortality in children increases in motor vehicle collisions (MVC) if child restraints are not used, no data exist correlating specific injuries with proper or improper use of safety restraints or age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate correlations between childhood MVC injuries, age, and restraint status. METHODS: A medical record search for pediatric patients involved in a MVC was conducted at a pediatric hospital (level 1 trauma). Charts were reviewed for demographics and injury-specific information. Patients were grouped by age, restraint use, and injuries. RESULTS: Nine hundred sixty-seven patients ≤12 years (average age 6.39 y) were identified. Being properly restrained was most common in all age groups except the 4- to 8-year age group in which being improperly restrained was most common. Unrestrained patients were most commonly found in the 9- to 12-year age group. A statistically significant difference was not observed for orthopaedic injuries among the restraint groups, but internal thoracic injuries, open head wound, and open upper extremity wounds were significantly more common in improperly or unrestrained patients. Improperly restrained infants had a significantly higher rate of intracranial bleeds and abrasions than those properly restrained. Unrestrained and improperly restrained 9- to 12-year olds had significantly more open head, open upper extremity, and vascular injuries. When comparing injury types with age groups, upper extremity fractures, femoral fractures, dislocations, and spinal fractures were found to be significantly higher in older children. CONCLUSIONS: Preventing orthopaedic injuries in older children may be accomplished by changes in regulations or automotive safety equipment. Rear-facing child safety seats could possibly be improved to prevent head trauma in the youngest patients. There is a continued need to reinforce the importance of proper use of child safety devices to parents. Knowledge of the patient's age, along with restraint status, might aid in diagnosis of less obvious MCV injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. Language: en

In the field of dysmorphology, achondroplasia is a well-known disorder. Sinus pericranii (SP), however, is not. The latter condition is a rare vascular malformation characterized by abnormal connections between the intracranial and the extracranial venous drainage pathways. The etiology of SP remains unclear, and yet, these defects can be present at birth, develop spontaneously later, or evolve following head trauma. Here, we report on a 2-year-old male with achondroplasia, SP, and craniocervical junction stenosis. The latter two defects required surgical correction. SP is an underappreciated malformation that we propose may be induced by increased intracranial pressure. This case appears to be the first report of this condition in achondroplasia.

Posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture from its tibial insertion is a rare pathology in children. It is usually caused by high-energy traumas and its diagnosis is not always easy. Late diagnosis leads to late treatment, which can result in suboptimal results. We present a case of a 13-year-old boy hit by a car, who had a delay in diagnosis and treatment because of severe head trauma. The patient was treated 4 months after the trauma with open reduction and internal fixation of the avulsion fracture. After 4 years of follow-up, he has no complaints and has achieved good functional outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after a negative initial head cat scan (CT) is a recognized complication after blunt trauma but the risk of this condition is unknown. Due to theoretical increased risk in patients on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and inability to monitor degree of anticoagulation, there is a lack of consensus regarding need for additional observation or routine repeat head CT. We hypothesized that patients on DOACs would have a low risk of delayed ICH after blunt head trauma. METHODS: In June 2020, an electronic literature search of MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), and Cochrane Library was performed by a medical librarian (TH) using a combination of keywords and subject headings. Databases were searched from inception through June 2020. Included studies reported outcome data on trauma patients greater than 18 years old who were taking anticoagulants and were observed after initial normal head CT. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was utilized for assessing the quality of nonrandomized studies in meta-analyses. RESULTS: Our electronic search returned 5719 papers and after removal of duplications, 72 underwent full review, and 12 met final inclusion/exclusion criteria. Four thousand eight hundred ninety one of 5289 (92%) patients suffered a ground level fall. Four studies reported routine repeat CT scans on all patients while the remaining only repeated CT scans for symptoms. Overall, 5289 patients were studied and 1263 (23.9%) were on a DOAC. Sixty-nine patients suffered delayed intracranial hemorrhage, 25 on DOAC and 44 on warfarin. The pooled weighted proportion for delayed ICH on DOAC was 2.43% (95% CI, 1.31 – 3.88%) compared to 2.31% (95% CI, 1.26 – 3.66%) on warfarin. Eighty six percent of patients (59/69) who suffered delayed ICH had no clinical consequences while 0.16% (2/1263) of those on DOAC and 0.48% (8/1788) of those on warfarin died from complications following delayed ICH. The overall crude risk of death from delayed ICH while on DOAC or Warfarin was 0.36% (11/3051). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of delayed ICH following low energy blunt head trauma for patients on DOACs is low, and the risk of a clinically significant bleed is even lower. The practice of routinely observing or systematically repeating head CT in patients on DOACs after low energy blunt head trauma with initially negative head CT may not be warranted.

Introduction Delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after negative initial head cat scan (CT) is a recognized complication after blunt trauma. Due to theoretical increased risk in patients on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and inability to monitor degree of anticoagulation, there is a lack of consensus regarding need for observation or repeat imaging. We hypothesized that patients on DOACs would have low risk of delayed ICH after blunt head trauma. Methods In June 2020, an electronic literature search of MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), and Cochrane Library was performed by a medical librarian. Included studies reported outcomes on adult trauma patients taking anticoagulants that were observed after initial normal head CT. A meta-analysis was performed using random effects model. Results Our electronic search returned 5719 papers with 12 meeting final inclusion/exclusion criteria. Overall, 5289 patients were studied including 1263 (23.9%) on DOAC and 1788 (33.8%) on warfarin. Sixty-nine patients suffered delayed ICH, 25 on DOAC and 44 on warfarin. The pooled weighted percentage for delayed ICH on DOAC was 2.43% (95% CI, 1.31 – 3.88%) compared to 2.31% (95% CI, 1.26 – 3.66%) on warfarin. The overall crude risk of death from delayed ICH while on DOAC or Warfarin was 0.36% (11/3051). Conclusions The risk of delayed ICH following low energy blunt head trauma for patients on DOACs is low, and risk of clinically significant bleeding is even lower. The practice of routinely observing or systematically reimaging patients on DOACs after low energy blunt head trauma with initially negative head CT may not be warranted.

Children evaluated in the emergency department for head trauma often undergo computed tomography (CT), with some uncooperative children requiring pharmacological sedation. Chloral hydrate (CH) is a sedative that has been widely used, but its rectal use for child sedation after head trauma has rarely been studied. The objective of this study was to document the safety and efficacy of rectal CH sedation for cranial CT in young children. We retrospectively studied all the children with head trauma who received rectal CH sedation for CT in the emergency department from 2016 to 2019. CH was administered rectally at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. When sedation was achieved, CT scanning was performed, and the children were monitored until recovery. The sedative safety and efficacy were analyzed. A total of 135 children were enrolled in the study group, and the mean age was 16.05 months. The mean onset time was 16.41 minutes. Successful sedation occurred in 97.0% of children. The mean recovery time was 71.59 minutes. All of the vital signs were within normal limits after sedation, except 1 (0.7%) with transient hypoxia. There was no drug-related vomiting reaction in the study group. Adverse effects occurred in 11 patients (8.1%), but all recovered completely. Compared with oral CH sedation, rectal CH sedation was associated with quicker onset (P

Objective:To determine the rate and differential contribution of heading vs unintentional head impacts (e.g., head to head, goal post) to CNS symptoms in adult amateur soccer players.Methods:Amateur soccer players completed baseline and serial on-line 2-week recall questionnaires (HeadCount) and reported (1) soccer practice and games, (2) heading and unintentional soccer head trauma, and (3) frequency and severity (mild to very severe) of CNS symptoms. For analysis, CNS symptoms were affirmed if one or more moderate, severe, or very severe episodes were reported in a 2-week period. Repeated measures logistic regression was used to assess if 2-week heading exposure (i.e., 4 quartiles) or unintentional head impacts (i.e., 0, 1, 2+) were associated with CNS symptoms.Results:A total of 222 soccer players (79% male) completed 470 HeadCount questionnaires. Mean (median) heading/2 weeks was 44 (18) for men and 27 (9.5) for women. One or more unintentional head impacts were reported by 37% of men and 43% of women. Heading-related symptoms were reported in 20% (93 out of 470) of the HeadCounts. Heading in the highest quartile was significantly associated with CNS symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 3.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57–6.37) when controlling for unintentional exposure. Those with 2+ unintentional exposures were at increased risk for CNS symptoms (OR 6.09, 95% CI 3.33–11.17) as were those with a single exposure (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.69–5.26) when controlling for heading.Conclusions:Intentional (i.e., heading) and unintentional head impacts are each independently associated with moderate to very severe CNS symptoms.

Although cobra envenomation continues to pose a threat to life and therefore constitutes a major cause of death in Africa, India, and Sri Lanka, the forensic pathology reports are not always histologically well documented or illustrated. The reports in the literature, although providing graphic evidence of the macroscopic appearances of the bite and its ensuing tissue necrosis, should the victim survive, often do not illustrate the histopathological findings to a sufficient degree. We present an unusual case of fatal envenomation by a rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) in which the victim had been bitten a second time after a previous rinkhals' bite. Two issues therefore arose: (a) whether the histopathological findings in the spleen were an acute reaction to the snake bite or were due to immunostimulation as a consequence of the previously inflicted bite, and (b) the previously undocumented finding of extravasation of erythrocytes into the surrounding Virchow-Robin spaces in the brain, a finding usually associated with blunt head trauma and therefore interpreted as a cortical contusion hemorrhage by forensic pathologists.

Traumatic leptomeningeal cysts, also known as growing skull fractures, are a rare but serious complication of childhood cranial fractures and a very rare complication following head traumas in adults. We present the case of a 35-year-old woman with drug-resistant epileptic seizures caused by a traumatic leptomeningeal cyst from the head injury she suffered at the age of 18 months. Surgical treatment was performed with the removal of the leptomeningeal cyst, dural repair, and cranioplasty. She had no more epileptic seizures at her follow-ups. Although it is rare, after head trauma in childhood, adult patients have often complained of epileptic seizure. Surgical treatment is necessary to control the illness. Copyright © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.