Abstract

LEE, Luis Pablo; ROJAS DE RECALDE, Laura; ESPINOLA DE CANATA, Miriam  and  SOSTOA, Gustavo. Computed Tomography in Mild Craniocerebral Trauma. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2007, vol.34, n.2, pp.122-125. ISSN 1683-9803.

Introduction: Indication of computed tomography (CT) for pediatric patients with mild craniocerebral trauma is a cause of controversy in pediatric emergency departments. The cases presented here show the results of CT in mild craniocerebral trauma. Materials and Methods: Retrospective description of 155 pediatric records of mild craniocerebral trauma according to the Glasgow scale 13-15/15 in hospitalized patients from September 2001 to September 2004. Results: All 115 patients (100%) were submitted to CT within 24 hours of craniocerebral trauma; of these, 27 (23.5%) were infants, 27 (23.5%) were preschool age, 50 (43.5%) were grade-school age, and 11 (9.6%) were adolescents, while 79 (68.7%) were male and 36 (31.3%) were female. Normal CT was found in 82 (71%), while abnormal results were found in 33 (29%), of which 3 (2.6%) showed fractures at the base of the skull, 8 (6.9%) linear fractures of the calvarium, 1 (0.8%) depressed fracture, 2 (1.7%) subdural hemorrhage, 10 (8.6%) epidural hemorrhage, 3 (2.6%9) parenchymatous hemorrhage, and 6 (5.2%) diffuse edema. Surgical relief was required in 2 (1.7%) cases due to degradation of the state of consciousness and signs of endocranial hypertension and CT corresponding to epidural hemorrhage. Conclusion: In this body of cases a high percentage of the CTs done within 24 hours of mild craniocerebral trauma found no structural lesions. The clinical and neurological exams were abnormal in the two cases operated on, for which the CT was also abnormal; observation of the patient for more than 24 hours may be an optimum indicator for performing a CT scan.

Keywords : Mild craniocerebral trauma; computed tomography.

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