Mid-childhood intracranial injuries: literature review and a case presentation

Traumatic intracranial injury in children is a frightening pathology for parents, caregivers, and medical practitioners and constitutes a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood. Injury could vary from mild concussion to intracranial haemorrhage and brain laceration. The paediatric age group is such a heterogeneous mix with marked anatomical, physiological and developmental differences across the range. A review of literature on intracranial head injuries focusing primarily on the childhood period, age 6–12 years is undertaken and this is followed by a presentation of an unusual case of inflicted intracranial head injury in a Nigerian child. The aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, medical and forensic approach to cases of intracranial injuries in this age group, and clinical outcomes, are outlined.