BACKGROUND:

Traumatic brain injury is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality during childhood.

AIM:

This study was conducted to describe the primary management and classification of children admitted to the emergency department for head trauma. SERIES: All children (0-15 years) with a history of head injury who were admitted to the outpatient emergency department at a single paediatric trauma centre in the Stockholm region during 1 month were included.

RESULTS:

There were 242 children (137 girls and 105 boys; mean age 5.3+/-4.4 years) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Based on the Scandinavian Head Injury Classification, 73% were classified as minimal, 17% mild and 2% moderate head injury. This classification seemed to be more accurately reflective than the ICD-10-based classification in the management of the children with head trauma.