A multicenter study on the clinical characteristics and outcomes among children with moderate to severe abusive head trauma
Document Type
Article
Department
Paediatrics and Child Health
Abstract
Introduction: We aimed to identify clinical characteristics, risk factors for diagnosis, and describe outcomes among children with AHT.
Methods: We performed an observational cohort study in tertiary care hospitals from 14 countries across Asia and Ibero-America. We included patients <5 years old who were admitted to participating pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We performed descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression for risk factors of AHT.
Results: 47 (12%) out of 392 patients were diagnosed with AHT. Compared to those with accidental injuries, children with AHT were more frequently < 2 years old (42, 89.4% vs 133, 38.6%, p < 0.001), more likely to arrive by private transportation (25, 53.2%, vs 88, 25.7%, p < 0.001), but less likely to have multiple injuries (14, 29.8% vs 158, 45.8%, p = 0.038). The AHT group was more likely to suffer subdural hemorrhage (SDH) (39, 83.0% vs 89, 25.8%, p < 0.001), require antiepileptic medications (41, 87.2% vs 209, 60.6%, p < 0.001), and neurosurgical interventions (27, 57.40% vs 143, 41.40%, p = 0.038). Mortality, PICU length of stay, and functional outcomes at 3 months were similar in both groups. In the multivariable logistic regression, age <2 years old (aOR 8.44, 95%CI 3.07-23.2), presence of seizures (aOR 3.43, 95%CI 1.60-7.36), and presence of SDH (aOR 9.58, 95%CI 4.10-22.39) were independently associated with AHT.
Conclusions: AHT diagnosis represented 12% of our TBI cohort. Overall, children with AHT required more neurosurgical interventions and the use of anti-epileptic medications. Children younger than 2 years and with SDH were independently associated with a diagnosis of AHT.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
DOI
10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.09.038
Recommended Citation
Corrales, A. Y.,
Lee, J. H.,
Caporal, P.,
Roa, J. D.,
Sarmiento, J. F.,
Zhu, Y.,
Abbas, Q.,
Kazzaz, Y.,
Dewi, D. S.,
Chong, S. L.
(2024). A multicenter study on the clinical characteristics and outcomes among children with moderate to severe abusive head trauma. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 59(3), 494-499.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_women_childhealth_paediatr/1486