The Complex Consequences of Severe Polytrauma with Traumatic Brain Injuries Caused by a Traffic Accident in a Child: A Case Report

Children (Basel). 2025 Apr 17;12(4):516. doi: 10.3390/children12040516.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Polytrauma is one of the three leading causes of mortality worldwide and a major contributor to psychosocial morbidity and disability. Concomitant traumatic brain injuries further increase this risk.

METHODS: We present the case of a 6-year-old child who sustained significant trauma in a road accident, resulting in injuries to multiple anatomical regions, including the central nervous system.

RESULTS: Two years after the accident, the child experiences brief episodes of decreased visual acuity, dizziness, nausea, pallor, and headaches, along with occasional migraines that resolve spontaneously. Additionally, the child struggles with school adjustment. Brain injuries associated with polytrauma are crucial prognostic factors in both the short and long term, influenced by the brain’s reactivity and recovery capacity. There is also an increased risk of developing syncopal episodes, seizures, and other neurological manifestations.

CONCLUSIONS: The direct and secondary effects of the trauma have contributed to psychosocial disabilities, necessitating complex medical care and family-centered interventions.

PMID:40310121 | PMC:PMC12025922 | DOI:10.3390/children12040516