SEVERE HEAD-INJURIES IN INFANTS - PHYSIOP ATHOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTICPARTICULARITIES

Severe head injuries in infants have specific circumstances such as ob stetrical injury, battered infant, shaken infant. Pediatric scales mus t be used for neurological evaluation, the Bicetre scale being a sensi tive index of clinical course. Tranfontanellar ultrasound can be usefu l as first line tool of evaluation of brain injury, but computerized t omography scan is necessary to correctly assess the brain lesions and the presence of hematoma. Hemorragic lesions can rapidly lead to hypov olemic state which must be prevented, or treated without delay. Treatm ent requires hemodynamics and hydroelectrolytic support, measures to c ontrol intracranial hypertension, sedation, and neurosurgical interven tion according to the hemorragic lesions.