Mild traumatic brain injury in children: just another bump on the head?

J Trauma Nurs. 2006 Apr-Jun;13(2):58-65. doi: 10.1097/00043860-200604000-00007.

Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is frequently encountered in pediatrics and challenges healthcare practitioners to provide safe, consistent, cost-effective care. Clinical management of children who sustain MTBI poses dilemmas for healthcare practitioners. This article will provide an overview of pediatric MTBI including definition, issues impacting diagnosis and management, risk factors for intracranial injury, indications for diagnostic imaging, disposition, and return to sports/activity. Knowledge and understanding of MTBI in children aid healthcare practitioners to make informed competent recommendations for care. Clinicians must have a thorough understanding and working knowledge of pediatric MTBI to aid clinical decisions and optimize patient outcomes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Adolescent
  • Aftercare
  • Algorithms
  • Baseball / injuries
  • Brain Concussion / complications
  • Brain Concussion / diagnosis*
  • Brain Concussion / therapy*
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / etiology
  • Child
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Decision Trees
  • Female
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Headache / etiology
  • Hospitals, Pediatric
  • Humans
  • Ohio
  • Parents / education
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Patient Selection
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Sports
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Traumatology / organization & administration