Is it possible to predict clinically which children may have intracranial complications after suffering a mild head trauma?

Authors:

Orejón de Luna G^a, Pavo García MR^b

^aPediatra. CS General Ricardos. Madrid. España.
^bHospital Universitario Doce de Octubre. Madrid. España.

Correspondence: G Orejón. Email: gloriaglo04@hotmail.com

Reference of this article.:

Orejón de Luna G, Pavo García MR. ¿Se puede predecir clínicamente qué niños pueden presentar complicaciones intracraneales después de sufrir un traumatismo craneal leve?. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. 2010;12:483-94.

Published in Internet: 30/09/2010

Abstract:

Authors’ conclusions: decreased level of consciousness, focal neurological signs, and abnormal behaviour, have been associated with intracranial complications in children who suffered minor head trauma. Due to the absence of agreement/consensus, clinical decision rules could be useful to determine those patients who need neuroimaging or hospitalization.

Reviewers’ commentary: this study identifies clinical data useful to predict intracranial complications in pediatric minor head trauma. Clinical decision rules found in the literature and proposed by the authors seem useful to unify the medical management of these patients. However, certain variability was found so it would be desirable to develop future studies on useful clinical decision rules or to validate those already published.

Keywords: Head trauma.