Ratan et al identified risk factors associated with convulsions following head trauma in children. This can help identify children who may require additional testing and closer monitoring. The authors are from Safdarjang Hospital and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.
Patient selection: children <= 12 years of age presenting to the hospital after head injury
Parameters:
(1) age of the child
(2) duration of unconsciousness
(3) Glasgow coma score (indicating the severity of head injury)
Parameter
Finding
Points
age of the child
<= 2 years of age
1
> 2 years of age
0
duration of unconsciousness
<= 12 hours
0
> 12 hours
1
Glasgow Coma Score
<= 8
1
> 8
0
risk score =
= SUM(points for the 3 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum risk score: 0
• maximum risk score: 3
• The greater the number of risk factors, the greater the risk of post-traumatic seizures.
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