Head injuries following television-related accidents in the pediatric population.
OBJECT
Current data indicate the rate of head injuries in children caused by falling televisions is increasing. The authors describe these injuries and the cost incurred by them.


METHODS
In a single-institution retrospective review, all children treated for a television-related injury at LeBonheur Children's Hospital, a Level I pediatric trauma center, between 2009 and 2013 were identified through the institution's trauma registry. The type, mechanism, and severity of cranial injuries, surgical interventions, outcome, and costs were examined.


RESULTS
Twenty-six patients were treated for a television-related injury during the study period. Most injuries (22 cases, 85%) occurred in children aged 2-4 years (mean age 3.3 years), and 19 (73%) of the 26 patients were male. Head injuries occurred in 20 patients (77%); these injuries ranged from concussion to skull fractures and subdural, subarachnoid, and intraparenchymal hemorrhages. The average Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission was 12 (range 7-15), and 3 patients (12%) had neurological deficits. Surgical intervention was required in 5 cases (19%). The majority of patients made a full recovery. There were no deaths. The total cost for television-related injuries was $1.4 million, with an average cost of $53,893 per accident.


CONCLUSIONS
A high occurrence of head injuries was seen following television-related accidents in young children. This injury is ideal for a public education campaign targeting parents, health care workers, and television manufacturers.
['Befeler|Adam Ross|AR|', 'Daniels|David J|DJ|', 'Helms|Susan A|SA|', 'Klimo|Paul|P|', 'Boop|Frederick|F|']
D000061:Accidents, Home D017677:Age Distribution D001131:Arkansas D001924:Brain Concussion D002391:Catchment Area, Health D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D017281:Cost of Illness D005260:Female D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale D016489:Head Injuries, Closed D006760:Hospitalization D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D008297:Male D008922:Mississippi D008923:Missouri D012189:Retrospective Studies D012887:Skull Fractures D013690:Television D013714:Tennessee D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed D014193:Trauma Centers D014481:United States
head injury ACS = American College of Surgeons GCS = Glasgow Coma Scale ICU = intensive care unit LBCH = Le Bonheur Children's Hospital pediatric neurosurgery television tip-over television trauma