Outcome Predictors in Pediatric Head Trauma: A Study of Clinicoradiological Factors.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic injuries are the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability among children. About 70%-80% of the accidental deaths in pediatric age group result directly from central nervous system lesions. METHODS: The purpose of our study was to study all the patients of ≤18 years of age with head or spinal injury admitted in neurointensive care unit at our center, an apex trauma center in a developing country, between June 2009 and September 2011. We retrospectively analyzed various factors including type of injury, mode of injury, admission Glasgow coma score (in case of head injury), and mortality rate. OBSERVATIONS: The study population consisted of 264 injured children. Mean age was 8.3 ± 5.6 years (range 5 months to 18 years). Forty percent of patients were within 1-5-year age group. Head injury accounted for 89% of cases and 11% of cases were spinal injury patients. Low-velocity trauma was the most common mode of injury, accounting for 74% of the cases. The percentage of patients with mild, moderate, and severe head injury were 38%, 15%, and 47%, respectively, in the head injury group. Mortality in head injury patients was 18% and in spinal injury patients was 9%. Operative intervention was done in 56% of patients. Predictors of mortality included severe head injury, hospital stay <7 days, pneumothorax, the presence of hypotension, and deranged coagulation parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Head injury is much more common than spinal injury in pediatric patients and fall from height being the most common mode of injury. Severe head injury, hospital stay <7 days, pneumothorax, presence of hypotension, and deranged coagulation parameters are predictors of poor outcome.

Computed tomography-guided C2 pedicle screw placement for treatment of unstable hangman fractures.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series and description of technique. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of inserting pedicle screws in unstable Hangman fracture cases by using intraoperative CT (O-arm) based navigation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Hangman fracture, also known as traumatic spondylolisthesis of the C2, is defined as a fracture involving the lamina, articular facets, pedicles, or pars of the axis vertebra. Opinions vary regarding the optimal treatment of unstable Hangman fractures. Some authors have recommended the use of rigid orthosis, whereas others have recommended surgical stabilization. The peculiar anatomy of the upper cervical spine is highly variable, and the presence of surrounding neurovascular structures makes pedicle screw fixation even more technically challenging. The advent of intraoperative 3-dimensional navigation systems permits safe and accurate instrumentation of the cervical spine. METHODS: Ten patients with unstable Hangman fracture, with age ranging from 17 years to 81 years, were operated under O-arm-based navigation, and screw position was confirmed with intraoperative computed tomographic scan. RESULTS: A total of 52 screws were inserted under O-arm guidance: 20 in C2 pedicle, 20 in C3 lateral mass, and rest in C4 lateral mass. Screw misplacement was seen in only 1 C2 pedicle screw (1 of 20, 5%). No new-onset neurological deficit developed in any of the patients. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 21 months. Bony fusion was achieved in all. Full rotation was preserved at C1-C2 joint. All the patients (50%) with neurological deficits before surgery improved after surgery. CONCLUSION: This series demonstrates that C2 pedicle screws can be put with precision under O-arm-guided navigation, and intraoperative computed tomographic scan can confirm position of screws. Patients can be operated and mobilized early with negligible risk of screw misplacement, with preservation of motion at the C1-C2 joint. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Pediatric intracranial aneurysms--our experience and review of literature.

PURPOSE: Intracranial aneurysms in children are not as common as in adults and there are many differences in the etiology, demographic variables, aneurysm location, aneurysm morphological characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcome in pediatric and adult intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: All children (≤18 years) suffering from intracranial aneurysm managed at our center from July 2001 through June 2013 were included in the study, and the details of these patients were retrieved from the computerized database of our hospital. OBSERVATIONS: A total of 62 pediatric patients were treated for 74 aneurysms during the study period and constituted 2.3% of all intracranial aneurysms treated during the same period. The mean age at presentation was 13.5 years. Headache (82%) was the commonest presenting feature; other symptoms included seizures (21%), ictal loss of consciousness (27%), and motor/cranial nerve deficits (22.6%). Computed tomogram revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage in 58% of patients. Eighty-two percent of aneurysms were in anterior circulation. Sixty-seven percent of aneurysms were complex aneurysms. Fifty-eight percent of patients underwent surgical intervention while 30% underwent endovascular procedures. Twenty-one percent of the patients developed vasospasm. There was no postoperative mortality. Favorable outcome was seen in 72% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric intracranial aneurysms are uncommon as compared to in adult patients. Seizures and cranial nerve involvement are seen more often as the presenting features in children. Posterior circulation aneurysms are more common in children, as are the internal carotid artery bifurcation aneurysms. There is high incidence of giant, posttraumatic, and mycotic aneurysms in children.

Histological changes in thalamus in short term survivors following traumatic brain injury: an autopsy study.

BACKGROUND: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Reduction of thalamic volumes were seen in upto 80% of patients who survived for more than 3 months after TBI. However, the same may not be true in patients who died earlier following TBI. AIMS: To to study the thalamus for evidence of any injury in short term survivors of TBI (<5 days) using immunohistochemistry to look for evidence of acute thalamic injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional prospective study was done in which autopsy specimens of short term survivors of TBI (<5 days) were studied for histopathological changes. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients with a mean age of 37.8 years were included in the study. CT scan revealed acute subdural haematoma in 10, contusions in 4 patients, extradural haematoma and depressed fracture in 1 each, and diffuse axonal injury in 1 patient. Seven patients required surgery in the form of a decompressive hemicraniectomy. The histopathological analysis of the bilateral thalami showed evidence of congestion of the cerebral capillaries in 8 patients. Axonal retraction balls were seen in 8 patients, myelin breakdown products were seen in 14 patients and axonal swelling was seen in 14 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Thalamic injury is universal in the setting of severe TBI in patients who have decreased survival and may be a significant factor for the poor outcome in these patients.