The Clinical Usefulness of Halo Sign on CT Image of Trauma Patients.
- Author:
Jong Il JEONG
1
;
Ah Jin KIM
;
Dong Wun SHIN
;
Jun Young RHO
;
Kyung Hwan KIM
;
Hong Yong KIM
;
Jun Seok PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. edpjs@ilsanpaik.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Minor head trauma;
Children
- MeSH:
Brain;
Brain Injuries;
Child;
Craniocerebral Trauma;
Head;
Humans;
Incidence;
Lethargy;
Prospective Studies;
Scalp;
Seizures;
Skull;
Skull Fractures;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed;
Unconsciousness;
Vomiting
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Traumatology
2007;20(2):83-89
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This research was performed to determine which clinical signs and symptoms of brain injury are sensitive indicators of skull fracture (SF) and intracranial injury (ICI) in head injured children. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of minor head trauma in children younger than 2 years of age for a 1-year period. Skull radiographs, brain computed tomography (CT), and data forms, including mechanism of injury, symptoms, physical findings, and hospital course, were completed for each child. RESULTS: Of 137 study subjects, 17 (12.4%) had SF/ICI. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury, and heights of fall above 1 meter were associated with incidence of SF/ICI (p<0.05). Scalp abnormalities were not associated with incidence of SF/ICI. As for clinical symptoms, lethargy and a grouping of features (irritability & vomiting) were associated with incidence of SF/ICI (p<0.05). The incidence of seizure, loss of consciousness, vomiting, irritability, and scalp abnormality did not differ significantly between those with normal radiologic findings and those with SF/ICI. Among asymptomatic patients, 11 (14.5%) patients had SF/ICI, and among patients with normal scalp findings, 9 (12.7%) patients had SF/ICI. CONCLUSION: Clinical signs and symptoms, except for lethargy and a grouping of features (irritability & vomiting), were not sensitive predictors of SF/ICI. Nevertheless, SF/ICI occurred among normal children. In such a case, a liberal policy of CT scanning is warranted.
