Predictors of Palchak et al for Low Risk of Brain Injury in a Child After Blunt Head Trauma

Patient selection: child after blunt head trauma

Outcome: traumatic brain injury requiring a neurosurgical procedure, requiring antiepileptic medication for more than 1 week, requiring hospitalization for >= 2 nights or having persistent neurologic deficits

A child is at low risk of brain injury if all of the following are present:

(1) normal mental status

(2) no clinical signs of skull fracture

(3) no history of vomiting

(4) no headache

(5) no scalp hematoma if age <= 2 years

The presence of one or more of the findings indicates some risk for brain injury.