Head trauma for the pediatrician

This review is directed toward the pediatric management of minor head trauma. In the case of a severely traumatized or comatose patient, neurosurgical consultation is needed for both medical and medicolegal reasons. The following points are emphasized: patients with head trauma, especially if associated with loss of consciousness, should be examined and subsequently evaluated by reliable observers; skull X-ray films rarely provide information that affects medical management; deterioration in the patient's clinical condition demands consultation and appropriate neuroradiologic studies; the presence of a seizure or basilar skull fracture does not in itself necessitate therapy; and continued evaluation of head trauma management is required to determine the optimal approach.