Neuropediatrics 2006; 37 - CS2_1_2
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-945537

ACUTE NEUROSURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF HEAD INJURY

AV Kulkarni 1
  • 1Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

Objective: This talk will describe the urgent neurosurgical management issues confronted when dealing with pediatric head injury.

Methods: A review of the relevant literature, including the use of recently completed guidelines regarding the management of head injury in children.

Results: This talk will review the following aspects of acute neurosurgical management: initial evaluation of the head injured patient, the evaluation and management of skull fractures, the evaluation and management of epidural hematomas, the evaluation and management of subdural hematomas, the evaluation and management of traumatic intracerebral hematomas, and an approach to the intensive care management of severely head injured children.

Conclusion: The acute neurosurgical management of children with head injury requires special attention to those features unique to the pediatric population, with prompt recognition of surgically treatable lesions.

Keywords: head injury, pediatrics, neurosurgery