Objective: Cranial computed tomography (CCT) and demographic findings of early childhood patients with head trauma who were admitted to the emergency department and the role of CCT in evaluation of these patients was investigated.

Material and Method: A total of 520 patients who were younger than 8-year-old and admitted to the emergency department due to head trauma between May 2011-November 2012 were included in this study. The trauma type, radiological findings and demographic characteristics of the patients including age and gender were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: Of these 520 patients, 223 (42.9%) were female and 297 (%57.1) were male. The mean age was 4.8±1.5 years, ranging from 2 months to 8 years. While there were no acute pathological findings in 337 (64.8%) patients who were evaluated with CCT, one or more acute pathological findings were present in 183 (35.2%) patients. The most frequent trauma type was falling down or hitting into the floor which was seen in 204 (%39.2) patients.

The rates of CCT with trauma findings were 29.2%, 37% ve 39.4% in the age group of 0-2, 2-5 and 5-8, respectively. While there was no significant difference between 2-5 and 5-8 years age groups, there was a statistically significant difference between 0-2 years age group and age groups of 2-5 and 5-8 years in terms of CCT without trauma findings (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The rate of CCT without trauma findings in early childhood patients with head trauma was remarkably high. When the frequency of trauma in childhood, radiation exposure due to performed CCT and the higher sensitivity to the radiation are considered; the clinical follow-up and neurological examination should be performed carefully before applying CCT for imaging in early childhood head trauma, especially in 0-2 years age group.

Head trauma Computed tomography Early childhood