Head injuries in children--special features.

Head injury in children is very common. Mostly the trauma is slight and the child improves without defects. Even after severe injuries, which can be fatal for an adult, many children will survive in a good condition. Prediction of survival and of quality of life after severe head injuries can be difficult. Predictors of a bad outcome are: low age, initial low grade of coma, abnormal motor responses, fixed pupils, abnormal eye movements, very high ICP, presence of diffuse cerebral edema or intracranial hematoma and obliteration of basal cisters on CT scans. Many children surviving a severe diffuse head injury will be mentally retarded or show behavioural changes.