Brain Trauma Injury Secondary To Fall From Tree: Epidemiological And Therapeutic Aspects

Résumé: Abstract The increase in cases of child falling from tree in our structure and the lack of data on this subject in the literature led us to initiate this work. Our objective was to describe the epidemiological, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of this condition in our hospital. Material and method: Our longitudinal and descriptive study was conducted from January to December 2019 in the neurosurgery department of Gabriel Touré university hospital in Bamako. It had concerned patients aged 0 to 18 years treated for head trauma secondary to a fall from tree height. Head injuries caused by other mechanisms were excluded from this study. Patient follow-up lasted 6 months. A total of 72 patients were identified. Results: Childhood head trauma secondary to a fall from tree accounted for 59.5% of children with head trauma, with a predominance of boy (94.5%). The mango tree was implicated in 89%. Direct cause of fall was found in 15.3% of cases. On admission, 5 patients were in coma. Mild disturbance in alertness was present in 41.7% of cases. Motor deficit was observed in 33 patients (45.8%). Head CT had showed depressed skull fracture associated with brain contusion in most cases (50% of cases). A craniocerebral wound was found in 2 patients. Surgery was performed in 57% of patients. After 6 months of follow-up, 11 patients were lost to follow-up and 48.2% had a neurological disorder. Mortality was 4.2%. Conclusion: Head trauma from falling from tree is one of the causes of disability in children in developing countries. Early and adequate management could reduce mortality.

Publié dans la revue: JOURNAL DE NEUROCHIRURGIE