The extra dural hematoma (EDH) is a accumulation of blood located between the inner table of the skull and the dura mater and predominantly consists of venous blood in infants 12. The main cause remains road traffic accidents 123417. In developing countries such as the Republic of Benin, the difficulty of access to CT scans delays the diagnosis of EDH in children. The clinical nonspecific symptoms of this disease does not show its severity, and it is only when the neurological state deteriorates or when a brain CT scan is performed that the diagnosis is made 51419. It is in order to highlight the realities of the management of extra dural hematomas in children in Benin, in particular at the University Hospital and Departmental Center of Parakou, that we initiated this study. It aims to study the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of extra dural hematomas in children with traumatic brain injuries admitted to the neurosurgical department of University Hospital Center from 2012 to 2017 and to evaluate the beneficial behaviours for a favourable evolution.

During the study period, 820 cases of brain injury were recorded in the department. These head injuries involved 178 children (21.7%), of whom 27 (15.2%) were diagnosed with an extra-dural hematoma. Out of the 27 cases of extradural hematoma, 19 cases (70.4%) satisfy our inclusion criteria. The annual distribution of pediatric EHD cases was reported in Table 1.

The distribution by gender gives us the following distribution: Male children were more victims with 15 boys (78.9%) for every 04 girls (21.1%). The sex ratio of boys to girls was 3.7. As for the distribution by age group, the most represented was 11-15 with a frequency of 42.1%. The cumulative number of children aged 0-11 years was 57.9%. The mean age was 8±1.4 years with extremes of 1-15 years. Among these children, none had a pathological past history. Road traffic accidents accounted for 57.9% of cases (n=11).

The distribution of aetiologies of extra dural hematomas in children was reported in Table 2.

Out of the eleven patient’s victims by road accidents, two were pedestrians and the remaining nine were either towed or bicycles. Eight were without helmets and six cases were in the age range of] 10-15] years old. The gender distribution of children involved in a traffic accident showed that there were 10 boys for every 01 girl. Five children were admitted to the emergency room within the first 06 hours after the trauma and six were admitted between the 6th and 24th hours. The objective clinical signs are shown in Table 3.

In this series, there were 21.0% severe head injury (n=04), 26.3% moderate head injury and 52.6% mild head injury.

Non-injection brain CT scan revealed eleven cases (57.9%) of left hemispheric extra dural hematoma. The most frequent observed location was temporo parietal with 06 cases (31.6%). The different locations were summarized in Table 4.

From the point of view of care, two (n=2) (10.52%) children received medical treatment compared to 17 (89.48%) children who received medical-surgical treatment. Neurosurgical treatment consisted of evacuation of the extra dural hematoma. This involved making a skin incision, trepanation (Figure 3 a), a preserved cranial bone flap, evacuation of the extra-dural haematoma (Figure 3 b), haemostasis either of the bone using bone wax or venous or arterial haemostasis by bipolar coagulation as appropriate, suspension of the dura mater (Figure 3 c), replacement of the bone flap (Figure 3 d) and finally suturing of the scalp in two planes. Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3.

With regard to the distribution of the children according to the haemoglobin level, we were able to subdivide into four groups:

Group 1: haemoglobin level less than 8g/dl in 6 cases (31.57%)

Group 2: haemoglobin level between 8 and 10g/dl in 7 cases (36.84%)

Group 3: haemoglobin level between 10 and 12g/dl in 3 cases (15.79%)

Group 4: haemoglobin level greater than 12g/dl in 3 cases (15.79%)

With respect to the blood ionogram: 16 children (84.21%) had a normal ionogram and 3 (15.79%) had hyponatremia, one of which was associated with hyperkalemia.

In the group of those who underwent surgery, 15 (n=15, 78.9%) benefited from blood transfusion for the following reasons: pre-existing anemia prior to surgical treatment and intra operative bleeding which was estimated by the major neurosurgical team. Six (n=6) children had received a 350 ml bag of completed blood cells prior to surgery. Transfusion was performed either intra operatively or immediately postoperatively, depending on the availability of blood products. Three children (n=3 or 15.8%) benefited from functional rehabilitation due to the presence of hemi-corporeal deficit. The evolution is very satisfactory and without complications in 16 cases. Only one case of delayed awakening was noted and required a cerebral CT scan without injection of contrast agent, which did not show any particularity, especially no blood recollection or areas of contusion. It was a situation of hypothermia. Two cases have temporally neurologic disorder. This is a case who had received conservative treatment and who retained dysarthria and intermittent headaches. There were no deaths in this series. The mortality rate was 0 %. The average length of hospitalization is 7±2 days with average of 05 days to 27 days.

The prevalence of EHD varies according to authors and countries. This difference reflects the variations that may exist within the samples studied. Indeed, the prevalence of 15.2% in the present study is slightly lower, compared to the results obtained by Hodé et al 11 in Cotonou, in southern Benin (20%) and Gaye et al 1 in Senegal. Because of the higher density, traffic accidents involving two-person vehicles are more frequent, hence the increase in frequency. Hassen et al 10 in 2012 in Tunis and Enicker et al21 in South Africa reported lower prevalences: 10.4% and 08% respectively. The modernization of transport systems, in this case school buses, could be the main reason 234. The main circumstance for the occurrence of EHD in children in this study was a road traffic accident. The same finding was made by Emejulu in Nigeria 20. The school children group was the most concerned in the present study, the hours of return from classes constitute situations of vulnerability of children in front of the state of degradation of our traffic roads, the speeding of motorcyclists and the non-respect of signals at the approach of schools. Falling from trees and game accidents are the main causes of head injury in countries that have passed this milestone. Mild brain injury was commonest with a frequency of 52.6%, a finding made by several authors. Far from being a good factor, this condition worsens the prognosis of the child. Indeed, after trauma involving adult and child, the children appears to be unharmed while adults are seriously injured, diverting attention to the latter. It is the installation of secondary neurological disorder that call for attention, and sometimes it is already too late 89121314. Hence the interest of performing a CT scans in any child victim of head trauma regardless of his clinical condition. However, it should be noted that the frequency of mild head and brain injuries is not as high in the general population as in children 15161722. This was found by Khattak et al 32 and Khaled et al 23 in a study of patients with head injuries where mild injury and accounted for 49.5% 242627.

Anemia is a cause of death in children with EHD. Indeed the hematoma is easily formed, facilitated by the structure of the child's head. In addition, the circulating blood volume of the child being low, a situation simulating an internal haemorrhage occurs very early. It is to remedy this situation that 15 of the 17 children operated received at least one complet blood transfusion (350 ml). Ijaz et al32 reported 100% blood transfusion. Tascu et al29 found acute post-operative anemia in 36% of children operated for EHD required an emergency transfusion. So transfusion is the key element in the management of extra-dural hematomas in children. This transfusion improves the pre-, per- and post-operative resuscitation conditions of these children. And all this contributes to a good management of children operated for EHD.

The postoperative outcome was favourable in 100% of cases. This result is the same to Ijazet and al32 findings, who transfused peri operatively as in our series. On the other hand, in the literature the mortality rate for extra-dural hematomas in the general population is 14% in Nigeria according to Mezue et al 18, 18% in Madagascar according to Rokotondraide et al19, 13.4% according to Kabré et al5, in Burkina Faso and Togo 04.8% in the adult population. According to Asif et al28, the rate of 04% of the paediatric population died after surgery, but the cause of death could not be identified. Shahenn et al33found the same frequency but in Roka serie this mortality rate reach 09%34.

We concluded that blood transfusion as part of the management of EDH would be one of the items for a favourable outcome in children. Thus, the preservation of blood mass in peri operative care it is a determining element for a good anaesthesia and resuscitation of these children, this associated with a good neurosurgical technique of haematoma evacuation.

Extra dural hematomas are relatively common in children. The most incriminated aetiology in Benin is road traffic accident. The high rate of mild head injury trauma with no clinical findings in children contrasts with the severity of the condition. This delays extra dural haematoma diagnosis made after brain CT scan. Efficient management of blood loss is one of the keys to successful management associated with good neurosurgical practices.