INFLICTED AND NONINFLICTED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN INFANTS AND PRESCHOOLERS

Infants and preschoolers sustaining traumatic brain injury represent a distinct group in terms of injury characteristics, medical management , and outcome. Although the majority of traumatic brain injuries occur ring during early childhood are mild, severe injuries are associated w ith high rates of mortality and morbidity. The less favorable neurobeh avioral outcome frequently identified in infants and preschoolers in r elation to outcome in other pediatric age groups is likely due to the high rate of inflicted injury in young children. inflicted injury ofte n subjects the brain to rotational acceleration-deceleration forces th at produce diffuse damage, leading to a high rate of death or persiste nt disability.