ASCENDANCY OF AGE AND TYPE OF FALL IN INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY

Peer Asad Aziz*, Sanaullah Pathan, M. Hamid Ali, Abdul Rauf Memon, Ahson Memon and Peer Abdul Ahad Aziz

ABSTRACT

Significant cranial changes including developing head size & neural function and suture ossification can be observed among growing children of age up to 4 year. An effect may appeared by these changes in type of head trauma due to un- intentional falls can cause significant head injury. The study aims to determine the impact of age and height of fall causing head injuries in infants and toddlers. 80 children of age ranged 0-52 months with head injuries due to accidental fall, were tracked retrospectively for this study. The children were divided in to two groups i.e. infant & toddlers. Age, fall height and type of head injury were taken into consideration. 49 (61%) were infant and 31(39%) were toddler. The mean age for infant group was 5.5 + 4.1 months and of toddler was 32 + 12.2 months.We observed in our study that high height fall is more common in toddlers rather than infants (n= 18 toddlers, n=2 infants). This difference is statistically significant (p value < 0.05). Whereas in-case of low height falls, 22(71%) infants and 16 (33%) toddlers were reported. This difference is also statistically significant (p value < 0.05). Skull fracture and scalp/facial soft tissue injury were observed more frequently in infants compared to toddlers for low and intermediate height falls (P value < 0.05). The head injury patterns differs age and mechanism wise among both groups of children who had head injury from accidental falls. Even the difference can be observed in fall type also among infants and toddlers.

Keywords: Head injury patterns, accidental falls, Skull fracture, Head Trauma, infant & toddler.