ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and disability in children worldwide (Anderson et al., 2005b) and is often referred to as a closed head injury. The mechanism of TBI typically involves the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head, with the head often coming into contact with a hard surface, such as the ground in a fall, or the windshield in a motor vehicle accident (Rabinowitz and Levin, 2014). At the site of contact, skull fractures, focal contusions and epidural haemorrhage commonly occur (Ewing-Cobbs et al., 1998). Inertial force from the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head can result in diffuse axonal injury, and is associated with widespread shearing and tearing of axons and blood vessels. Secondary injury can include further axonal injury, ischaemia, cerebral swelling, haematoma, and the release of glutamate and other neurotoxins (Kochanek et al., 2000).
