Outcome and cost of childhood brain injury following assault by young people

TY - JOUR

T1 - Outcome and cost of childhood brain injury following assault by young people

AU - Lundy, Claire T.

AU - Woodthorpe, Claire

AU - Hedderly, Tamasine

AU - Chandler, Chris

AU - Lasoye, TJ

AU - McCormick, David

PY - 2010/9

Y1 - 2010/9

N2 - Introduction: Media interest in inter-juvenile violence in the UK has emphasised to clinicians the lack of data on medical outcomes following injury. A study was undertaken to examine the incidence of childhood head injury in a large trauma centre serving an inner city multiethnic community. The aim was to establish the physical and financial cost of survival with a head injury following inter-juvenile assault.Methods: All children aged 8-16 years attending King's College Hospital, London (KCH) because of a head injury were identified restrospectively. The case notes of those admitted to the neurosurgical and neurorehabilitation service with a head injury between 1 August 2006 and 30 September 2008 were reviewed.Results: A total of 1126 children attended KCH with a head injury. Eight boys required admission for treatment of a head injury following alleged inter-juvenile assault. The mechanisms of brain injury included a penetrating knife wound, assault with a bottle and physical assault. One child died following admission as a result of his brain injury. Complete neurological outcome data were available on six cases. Three had a hemiplegia, four had speech and language difficulties, two had visual impairment, five had behavioural changes and five had cognitive difficulties.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the serious consequences of inter-juvenile assault. Survival can be associated with neurological and psychological deficits. The cost to the health service is substantial. Further work is required to establish the long-term needs of these children.

AB - Introduction: Media interest in inter-juvenile violence in the UK has emphasised to clinicians the lack of data on medical outcomes following injury. A study was undertaken to examine the incidence of childhood head injury in a large trauma centre serving an inner city multiethnic community. The aim was to establish the physical and financial cost of survival with a head injury following inter-juvenile assault.Methods: All children aged 8-16 years attending King's College Hospital, London (KCH) because of a head injury were identified restrospectively. The case notes of those admitted to the neurosurgical and neurorehabilitation service with a head injury between 1 August 2006 and 30 September 2008 were reviewed.Results: A total of 1126 children attended KCH with a head injury. Eight boys required admission for treatment of a head injury following alleged inter-juvenile assault. The mechanisms of brain injury included a penetrating knife wound, assault with a bottle and physical assault. One child died following admission as a result of his brain injury. Complete neurological outcome data were available on six cases. Three had a hemiplegia, four had speech and language difficulties, two had visual impairment, five had behavioural changes and five had cognitive difficulties.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the serious consequences of inter-juvenile assault. Survival can be associated with neurological and psychological deficits. The cost to the health service is substantial. Further work is required to establish the long-term needs of these children.

KW - HEAD-INJURY

KW - CHILDREN

KW - DISORDER

U2 - 10.1136/emj.2009.079020

DO - 10.1136/emj.2009.079020

M3 - Article

SN - 1472-0205

VL - 27

SP - 659

EP - 662

JO - EMERGENCY MEDICINE JOURNAL

JF - EMERGENCY MEDICINE JOURNAL

IS - 9

ER -