Prehospital Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Brain Injury in Children

Prehospital providers are often the first line of response for the triage and treatment of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). New advances in diagnosis and management in the prehospital setting have led to a dramatic improvement in the care of patients with TBI. The past 3 decades have witnessed an estimated 20% reduction in mortality rates from TBI. However, a great deal of variation still exists in practice with respect to the diagnosis and management of pediatric head trauma. Training programs should be developed to educate emergency medical services providers and medical control physicians on evidence-based management of pediatric TBI. Early intervention with new therapies should be incorporated into prehospital care to decrease secondary injury.

Keywords: head trauma, traumatic brain injury, intracranial injury, subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, concussion