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Ceiling fan head injury to children in an A ustralian tropical location
Author(s) -
Furyk Jeremy,
Franklin Richard Charles,
Costello Daren
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12213
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , skull , sedation , incidence (geometry) , ceiling (cloud) , skull fracture , head injury , head trauma , surgery , pediatrics , physics , psychiatry , meteorology , optics
Aim To explore clinical aspects of head injuries caused by ceiling fans in children. Methods Cases were identified using a sensitive search strategy of the T ownsville E mergency D epartment information system from 1 D ecember 2005 to 30 A pril 2010, and a retrospective structured medical record review was undertaken. Results During the study period there were 136 presentations with relevant injuries, with a higher incidence in the warmer months. There were three common mechanisms; those related to ingress and egress from bunk beds, children lifted by an adult, and children jumping from a piece of furniture. Aside from lacerations, the majority of children had unremarkable history and examination findings. There were 29 C omputed T omography ( CT ) scans of the head performed, four skull X ‐rays and no c‐spine imaging. Forty‐six children received sedation or anaesthesia as part of their management, 38 in the Emergency Department and eight in the operating theatre. Seven children sustained skull fractures and a total of 13 children were admitted to hospital for an average length of stay of 2.3 days. Conclusions Ceiling fans are a small but important source of paediatric head injury in tropical A ustralia. Significant injuries are possible with 5% of patients having a positive finding on CT scan. Most fractures are palpable, CT is recommended if fracture cannot be confidently excluded clinically.