A retrospective analysis of pediatric craniocerebral trauma due to fall from height, treated in a tertiary care centre

Aim: This is a retrospectrive study done to study the incidence and results of all pediatric patients who reported to our hospital as case of fall from height. Materials and Methods: The records of all fall related patients in the age group below 15 years of age between June 2013 and June 2017 were analysed. Mortality in patients with associated extracranial injuries were not taken for the study (mortality was taken into account for purely craniocerebral neurosurgical patients). Results: Two thousand two hundred and sixty eight children were found to have fell from height. Two hundred and thirty four patients were found to have sustained skull fracture. 99 patients had sustained fracture of skull base. A quarter of patients needed admission. The mortality associated has been found to be one percent. Three percent patients had isolated cerebral contusion, another 3 percent had subdural hematoma, 3 percent had subarachnoid hemorrhage and one percent had EDH (extradural hematoma) and another 3 percent had combined insults to brain. About 9 percent had fractures of skull bone out of which a quarter fractures were depressed. 5 percent children required surgery. In patients of pure craniocerebral trauma half a percent died. Conclusion: We conclude that falls form an important mode for mortality and morbidity in the society paticularly the children. Brain injuryform an important cause of these mortality and morbidity. We need to improve on this count by planning measures to avoid such mishaps in future.