Traumatic Brain | Head Injury in Children

Unfortunately, head injuries are very common with children, accounting for approximately one hundred thousand hospitalizations annually. Safety measures such as child safety restraints in vehicles, the use of safety devices such as helmets for bicycles, scooters, skateboards, horseback riding and some sports such as football and hockey help to reduce the chance of serious head injury among children.

Even with precautions such as the above, statistics for traumatic brain injuries remain high among children. Previously, it was thought children were more resistant to brain trauma than adults due to their developing brain's ability to rewire over time. The idea was that equivalent brain damage to a child and an adult, would lead to less problems in a child.

This view came known to be called the "Kennard Principle" based on studies with monkeys (Kennard M.A. 1940). The idea was that a child's brain, while evolving, exhibited "neuroplasticity," enabling it to work around or adapt to organic brain damage. Many studies have shown that the "Kennard Principle" is wrong, however, and that in fact ,the outcome for children suffering traumatic brain injury is far worse than the outcome for an equally injured adult. Evidence seems to suggest children are more susceptible than adults to permanent brain damage when the forces involved are equivalent.

Head injuries are one of the most common causes of disability and death in children. The injury can be as mild as a bump, bruise (contusion), or cut on the head. Or it can be moderate to severe in nature due to a concussion and damage to the brain. The key is to promote a safe playing environment for children and to prevent head injuries from occurring.