Derivation and validation of a clinical decision rule to identify young children with skull fracture following isolated head trauma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is no clear consensus regarding radiologic evaluation of head trauma in young children without traumatic brain injury. We conducted a study to develop and validate a clinical decision rule to identify skull fracture in young children with head trauma and no immediate need for head tomography.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study in 3 tertiary care emergency departments in the province of Quebec. Participants were children less than 2 years old who had a head trauma and were not at high risk of clinically important traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 15, altered level of consciousness or palpable skull fracture). The primary outcome was skull fracture. For each participant, the treating physician completed a standardized report form

SUBMITTER: Gravel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4627875 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature