Abstract
Background Approximately 20% of victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Brazil are children
and adolescents, with more than 900 deaths per year.
Objective To describe the characteristics and epidemiological profile of children and adolescents
with TBI in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, according to age groups and metropolitan
area of occurrence of the events leading to trauma.
Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study with a review of consecutive medical
records of children and adolescents with TBI hospitalized and treated at a level-1
trauma center in São Paulo between 2019 and 2023.
Results In the period proposed for the study, 196 children and adolescents suffered TBIs.
They had a median age of 5 (interquartile range [IQR] 10–1.75) years and were predominantly
boys (71%), of white skin color/race (55%), and coming from the north zone of the
metropolitan region of São Paulo (44%). Domestic accidents were the main causes of
TBI (61%), followed by traffic accidents (24%). The mean length of hospital stay was
of 13 (standard deviation [SD] ± 26) days, and the in-hospital mortality rate was
of 3%.
Conclusion We found a predominance of children and adolescents with TBI coming from the north
zone of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, with a prevalence of falls from heights
above the ground among children ≤ 9 years of age and trampling among children older
than this age. Preventive actions must be established after reflections on socioeconomic
issues and considering the metropolitan area where the accidents occur and the age
group.
Keywords Craniocerebral Trauma - Glasgow Coma Scale - Brain Injuries - Wounds and Injuries
Bibliographical Record
