Traumatic Hematomas

Accidents are the leading cause of death in children under the age of 15. In this group, head injury is the most common cause of mortality. The most frequent causes of head injury in infants up to 11⁄2 years of age are falls, car accidents, bicycle accidents, and child abuse. In teens and adolescents the cause of injury shifts to the causes that are seen in adult head injury, with the most common being motor vehicle accidents and assaults. Mass lesions, which include subdural hematomas, epidural hematomas, intracerebral hemorrhages, and subarachnoid hemorrhages, actually account for a fairly small portion of intracranial pathology in childhood trauma. The incidence of mass lesions in pediatric head injury increases with age. Presentations depends on types and location of hematoma.