Traumatic Head Injuries Caused by Ceiling Fans Among Children Treated in US Emergency Departments

Head injury caused by fan blades is rare among children. We analysed 14 cases of such injury and discuss the causes, type of injury and preventive measures.

Purpose: We report a series of 29 pediatric patients who sustained head injuries due to metallic ceiling fans. They all were admitted to the Emergency Department of Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, during January 2015 to January 2017. Results: Pediatric ceiling fan head injuries are characterized by four traits which distinguish them from other types of head injuries; 1- Most of them were because of climbing on or jumping from furniture between the ages of two and five. 2- Most of them sustained compound depressed skull fracture which associated with intracranial lesions and pneumocephalus. 3- The most common indication for surgical intervention was because of dirty wound which mixed with hairs. 4- These variables were statistically significantly correlated with the outcome: Level of consciousness, neurologic deficit, fracture site (occipital fracture had worse outcome), intracranial hemorrhage and surgery. Conclusion: Pediatric metallic ceiling fan head injury should be seen as a distinct type of head injury because it has special presentations, managements, and outcomes. In addition, we should start applying preventive methods to minimize its occurrence. Show more

To explore clinical aspects of head injuries caused by ceiling fans in children.