Traumatic Brain Injury: Study Analyzes Craniectomy Outcomes in Kids With TBI

Traumatic Brain Injury is one of the leading causes of death in children. Approximately 475,000 children between the ages of 0-14 suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. While pediatric brain injury preventative methods have drastically improved over the last 30 years, medical options in the treatment of traumatic brain injury have not seen similar improvements. Many TBI patients end up developing intracranial pressure as a consequence of brain swelling, blood clots, subdural hematomas, or other intracerebral hemorrhages. Some experts have said that removing bone from the skull soon after the injury can lessen the effects of swelling and lead to less damage.

In-Depth Study Analyzes Craniectomy Outcomes In Children With Traumatic Brain Injury

Several studies have looked at the results of performing decompressive craniectomy in children after injury. However, thus far, the studies have been limited by small sample size, a short follow-up, as well as a lack of a objective scale with which to judge results. The most recent study, Outcomes following Decompressive Craniectomy in Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single Center Experience with Long-Term Follow-up, at decompressive craniectomy looked at the results of decompressive craniectomy over the last 10 years in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury. Dr. Jay Jagannathan, who presented the study, said of the results: "The overall outcomes indicate a net 65 percent favorable outcome in pediatric patients following craniectomy (good recovery or moderate disability), with 9 percent of the patients having severe disability on long-term follow-up. While pediatric craniectomy has often been viewed as a last resort in the pediatric population, it can be an effective method of controlling ICP and providing reasonable quality of life postoperatively."