Children with head injuries in Basrah Neurosurgical Unit

ABSTRACT

Three hundred children with head injuries admitted censecutively to Basrah Neurosurgical unit over the period from 1st October 1987 to the 20th June 1988 have been studied. Details of the causes and consequences of the accidents have been analysed. One hundred forty four cases [48%] were caused dy fall from a height. Twenty four [8%] required neurosurgical operations. There were fourteen deaths [3.7%] [eight from missile and 6 from non missile causes]. Factors which were found to influence the likelihood of post traumatic seizures included severe head injury [Glasgow coma score of 3 to 8] linear or open depressed skull fracture, missile caused head injuries and occurrence of head injury below the age of 2 years. No significant association was found between seizure occurrence and the sex of the child