Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Associated Topics: An Overview of Abusive Head Trauma, Nonaccidental Trauma, and Sports Concussions

Erik B Smith; Jennifer K Lee; Monica S Vavilala; Sarah A Lee

doi:10.1016/j.anclin.2018.10.002

Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Associated Topics: An Overview of Abusive Head Trauma, Nonaccidental Trauma, and Sports Concussions

Anesthesiol Clin. 2019 Mar;37(1):119-134. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2018.10.002.

Authors

Erik B Smith¹, Jennifer K Lee², Monica S Vavilala³, Sarah A Lee³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins University, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: erik@jhmi.edu.
² Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins University, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
³ Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.

Abstract

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) uniquely affects the pediatric population. Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a subset of severe pediatric TBI usually affecting children in the first year of life. AHT is a form of nonaccidental trauma. Sports-related TBI resulting in concussion is a milder form of TBI affecting older children. Current recommended perioperative management of AHT and sports concussions relies on general pediatric TBI guidelines. Research into more specific pediatric TBI screening and management goals is ongoing. This article reviews the epidemiology, mechanisms, clinical signs, and management of AHT and sports-related concussions.

Keywords: Brain injuries; Child abuse; Concussion; Mild traumatic brain injury; Preoperative evaluation; SCAT-3; Sports-related head injury.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Athletic Injuries / diagnosis*
Athletic Injuries / therapy*
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Brain Injuries, Traumatic / diagnosis*
Brain Injuries, Traumatic / therapy*
Child
Child Abuse / diagnosis*
Child, Preschool
Humans
Infant
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods

Grants and funding

R01 NS107417/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States