OBJECTIVE: To verify the frequency of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the people between 0 and 19 years of age, in accordance to gender, age and cause of trauma. METHOD: Descriptive study made through a period of a year, in all TBI victims, aged until 19 years admitted in a reference trauma center. RESULTS: The sample had a total of 390 patients; 280 (71.8%) were boys. The main age of the victims was between 10 to 19 years (adolescents) with 177 patients (45.4%). The most common cause of trauma was height falls (34.4%). According to the Glasgow Coma Scale, 89% had suffered mild TBI. CONCLUSION: The main group of victims was the adolescents; the most important cause of TBI was height fall, with masculine predominance and mild trauma.
traumatic brain injury; children; adolescents; epidemiology
