PEDIATRIC SKULL FRACTURES

Course overview

A CHILD'S SKULL IS THINNER AND MORE PLIABLE THAN AN ADULT SKULL, THUS PROVIDING LESS PROTECTION TO THE BRAIN. HEAD TRAUMA IS A COMMON CAUSE OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN CHILDREN. IT IS A REGULAR PRESENTATION IN THE PAEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (PED) AND PRIMARY CARE. SUSPECTED PEDIATRIC SKULL FRACTURES SHOULD BE EVALUATED USING A CT, PLAIN RADIOGRAPH, MRI, AND ULTRASOUND TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE INJURY. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PEDIATRIC SKULL FRACTURES AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.