Management of Brain-Injured Children

Brain injuries are common in children, typically following head trauma but also complicating meningitis, encephalitis, cerebrovascular haemorrhage (stroke) and brain tumours. Many children suffer irreversible impairments and are left with major physical, educational and behavioural disabilities. This has tremendous implications for health, education and social services. The survivors of brain injuries pose a significant burden on the NHS, the community and families. Despite this, resources are limited or non-existent in many parts of the UK and, consequently, many hospitals, schools and education authorities, and social services are unsure how to address the many problems shown by these children and their families.

The new edition of 'Management of Brain Injured Children' provides a detailed account of brain injuries in children. It considers how common they are, why they occur, and how impacts on the family. A parent's experience of having a child who suffered a severe head injury provides an invaluable contribution, as does the account of her daughter, now a teenager. The book concludes with appendices detailing useful support organisations and relevant governmental and other agencies' publications. Referencing is thorough and up-to-date, providing readers with useful sources of information for additional reading.

Richard Appleton is at Consultant in Paediatric Neurology, The Roald Dahl EEG Unit, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK. Tony Baldwin is at Consultant Psychologist, Child Development Centre, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.