Head injury in children due to cricket ball scenario in developing countries.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was the assessment of head injury caused by cricket ball injury in children. In underdeveloped countries, this is particularly important due to the absence of safety precautions. The study was undertaken to increase the public awareness of the need to reduce the morbidity related to this sport.

METHODS

This was a prospective study in which all the children <18 years who had sustained head injury due to cricket balls were enrolled.

RESULTS

The study included 27 children, 26 males and 1 female. Out of these 21 cases of head injury were due to hard plastic cricket balls and the rest were due to conventional cricket balls. In 25 patients, CT scan was done, which revealed a lesion in 21 of them. Six patients required surgery, 3 for extradural hematoma, 1 for acute subdural hematoma, 1 for contusion and 1 for compound depressed fracture. One death occurred in our series. There was no significant difference in the nature of injury sustained by either plastic or conventional cricket balls.

CONCLUSION

Head injury due to cricket balls can lead to serious consequences even if an innocuous plastic ball is used in place of a conventional cricket ball. Public awareness apart from safety measures is required so that helmets are worn during playing. Change in the nature of the balls may bring a reduction in the severity of head injury.