Head Trauma Edit Head trauma is a common cause of childhood
hospitilization. Serious head trauma is usually secondary to
motor vehicle accidents, sports, recreation, and violence.
Presentation varies according to the injury. A patient may
present with neurologic deficit or without neurologic deficit.
Some patients with head trauma may stabilize and other patients
may deteriorate. Children with neurologic deficits may have a
history of a lucid interval and relapse into coma, or they may
have remained abnormal after the injury. The physical
examination will vary according to the injury. Some patients may
have linear or depressed skull fractures. Basilar skull
fractures are associated with battle sign, a subcutaneous bleed
over the mastoid, hemotympanum, and cerebrospinal fluid
rhinorrhea and otorrhea. Cerebral concussion is the most common
head injury seen in children. Patients with concussion may have
a history of brief seconds to minutes unconsciousness, then
normal arousal. Disturbance of vision and equilibr