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Prognosis of brain stem lesion in children with head injury

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Abstract

Introduction

Traumatic brain stem lesions (tBSL) in children are thought to be a rare phenomenon. This prospective study analyzed the frequency and significance of such lesions on early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after severe head injury, since CT fails to demonstrate these lesions.

Methods

In 30 consecutive children comatose after head injuries, MRI was performed within 8 days of the injury.

Results

The incidence of tBSL was 60%. When the lesion affected the pons or caudal portions of medulla oblongata bilaterally, mortality was 100%. The presence of tBSL significantly correlated with the duration of coma and the categories of outcome, as indicated by the Glasgow Outcome Score. The frequency and the distribution of tBSL in children were similar to adults.

Conclusion

Magnetic resonance imaging appears to be of high predictive value after severe pediatric head injuries.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, Germany, for its support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Dieter Woischneck, Susan Klein & Raimung Firsching

  2. Klinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Steffen Reißberg

  3. Institut für Biomedizin und Medizinische Statistik, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Brigitte Peters

  4. Klinik für Allgemeine Pädiatrie und Neonatologie, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Stefan Avenarius & Gudrun Günther

Authors
  1. Dieter Woischneck
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  2. Susan Klein
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  3. Steffen Reißberg
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  4. Brigitte Peters
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  5. Stefan Avenarius
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  6. Gudrun Günther
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  7. Raimung Firsching
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dieter Woischneck.

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Woischneck, D., Klein, S., Reißberg, S. et al. Prognosis of brain stem lesion in children with head injury. Childs Nerv Syst 19, 174–178 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-002-0703-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-002-0703-z

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