Ischaemic Stroke following Minor Head Trauma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Head trauma is one of the leading causes of emergency department (ED) presentations. However, ischaemic stroke due to the minor head trauma is an unusual and unexpected condition for ED physicians. We report a ten-month-old boy was presented to the ED with disability in the left leg and arm. The child fell off the bed to the floor from a height of approximately 0.5 meter while sleeping. The cranial computed tomogram scan revealed a hypodense lesion in the posterior limb of right internal capsule that was consistent with brain infarct. ED physicians may consider a possible ischaemic stroke in children presented with minor head trauma without any pathological finding on the physical examination. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2013;20:392-395)