{"id":"e0e96f21-ecff-4292-9aee-668cfdda6d19","slug":"pediatric-traumatic-brain-injuries-treated-with-decompressive-craniectomy","title":"Pediatric traumatic brain injuries treated with decompressive craniectomy","authors":["Neil Patel","Michael West","Joanie Wurster","Cassie Tillman"],"abstract":"Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs in an estimated 80% of all pediatric trauma patients and is the leading cause of death and disability in the pediatric population. Decompressive craniectomy is a procedure used to decrease intracranial pressure by allowing the brain room to swell and therefore increase cerebral perfusion to the brain. Methods: This is a retrospective study done at St. Mary's Medical Center/Palm Beach Children's Hospital encompassing a 3 year 7 month period. All the pediatric patients who sustained a TBI and who were treated with a decompressive craniectomy were included. The patients’ outcomes were monitored and scored according to the Rancho Los Amigos Score at the time of discharge from the hospital and 6 months postdischarge. Results: A total of 379 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of TBI were admitted during this time. All these patients were treated according to the severity of their injury. A total of 49 pediatric patients required neurosurgical intervention and 7 of these patients met the criteria for a decompressive craniectomy. All seven patients returned home with favorable outcomes. Conclusion: This study supports the current literature that decompressive craniectomy is no longer an intervention used as a last resort but an effective first line treatment to be considered.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/e0e96f21-ecff-4292-9aee-668cfdda6d19/featured/hero-1782421036160.png","publishDate":"2013-09-27T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.119055","categories":["Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/e0e96f21-ecff-4292-9aee-668cfdda6d19/pdf"}