Outcome Analysis and Outcome Prognostic Factors of Traumatic Brain Injury in Childhood

Background The major cause of morbidity and mortality in children and adult is Traumatic brain injury (TBI). It results in considerable health care cost and, for many survivors, permanent disability Object To know factors associated with good outcome and poor outcome in children after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) Materials and Methods A prospective study including 100 children suffering from severe traumatic BRAIN INJURY admitted in (I.C.U.) the Intensive Care Unit of alsader teaching hospital over 2 year period. important demographic, clinical, biological and radiological data were recorded on ICU admission. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) performed after hospital discharge to defined Prognosis and outcome. Results The main cause of trauma was (R.T.A.) traffic accidents (69%) There were31 female patients and 69 male (69%). With the age ranging from the youngest 2 days old and the oldest was 14 yrs old. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score was<8 scores. The GOS performed within a mean delay of 4 months after hospital discharge was as follow: deaths (19%), vegetative states (2%), severe disabilities (4%), moderate disabilities (15%) and good recoveries (60%). factors associated with poor outcome (death, vegetative state or severe disability) were: GCS ≤8 (P=0.04); Hypoxemia (P=0.02) and sodium level >145 mmol/l (P=0.04). Conclusions The most common cause of death and acquired disability is Traumatic brain injuries, Road traffic accident (R.T.A.) is the common cause of severe head injuries among children. Non- reacting pupil to light, low GCS, multiple extra-cranial injury and raised ICP after head injury are The bad prognostic factors for severe head injury. The outcome measure (GOS) is a very blunt instrument, especially for survivors who are not vegetative or severely impaired.