Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, and Glucose Levels in Patients Aged 0-2 Years with Head Trauma Assessed in the Emergency Department

Aim: Head injuries are common in the pediatric population, with traumatic brain injury being a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.Assessing the clinical condition of children aged 0-2 years with head injuries is particularly challenging due to non-specific symptoms and limited communication abilities.This study aimed to investigate changes in post-traumatic levels of hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and glucose, and to evaluate their potential as prognostic indicators for clinical outcomes and mortality. Materials and Methods:This retrospective study was conducted with the approval of the ukurova University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee.A total of 342 pediatric patients diagnosed with isolated moderate to severe head trauma were included.These patients were admitted to the Emergency Department of Nide mer Halisdemir Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2019, and January 1, 2022.Data were reviewed retrospectively.HGB, HCT, and glucose levels were compared based on trauma type and lesion characteristics using one ANOVA followed by Duncan's test.An independent t-test was used to compare laboratory values between patients who survived and those who did not.Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.All analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0 (IBM Corp.).Results: Falls were the most common mechanism of injury, accounting for 161 cases (47%).Linear skull fractures were observed in 86 cases (25%).Of the total cases, 270 patients (79%) were admitted to the general ward, and 72 (21%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).A significant decrease in HGB and HCT levels, along with an increase in glucose levels, was observed in patients who died (p<0.001).Similarly, these changes were significant among patients requiring ICU admission (p<0.001). Conclusion:Increased severity of head trauma was associated with greater reductions in HGB and HCT levels and elevated glucose levels.These laboratory parameters may serve as useful indicators of prognosis and mortality risk in pediatric patients with moderate to severe head trauma.