[Head injuries in children: can clinical features identify patients with high or low risk for intracranial injury?].

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical features that might reliably identify the presence of an intracranial injury.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective study of 1,128 children with head injury over a one year period was carried out. Information regarding each patient was documented, including demographic data, physical examination findings, neurologic status, diagnostic studies and the patient's outcome.

RESULTS

Of the 1.128 patients, traumatic intracranial abnormalities identified on CT of the head was found in 11 (1%). Four patients of this group (36%) required surgery. Two children subsequently died. Loss of consciousness, amnesia. Glasgow Coma Scale less than 15 and focal neurological deficits were significantly more common in the group with intacranial injury. The negative predictive values were high for all features.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with symptoms of head injury should undergo head CT because a small number will require surgery. After a minor head trauma, children who are neurologically normal and without symptoms may be discharged from the emergency department and sent home after careful physical examination alone.