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Head Trauma, Acute — Head Trauma Decision Rules for Children < 2 Years Old — Clinical Pathway: Emergency

Acute Head Trauma Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department

Head Trauma Decision Rules for Children < 2 Years Old

Very Low Risk of Intracranial Injury if All of the Following Are Present

  • Normal Mental Status
    • Altered mental status is defined as:
      • GCS < 15
      • Agitation
      • Somnolence
      • Slow responses when developmentally appropriate
      • Repetitive questioning
  • No Hematoma or Isolated Frontal Hematoma
  • No LOC or LOC < 5 Seconds
  • Non-severe Injury Mechanism
    • Severe defined as any of the following:
      • Motor vehicle crash with:
        • Patient ejection
        • Death of another passenger
        • Rollover
      • Pedestrian or bicyclist without helmet struck by a motorized vehicle
      • Falls of > 3 feet
      • Head struck by a high-impact object
  • No Palpable Skull Fracture
  • Acting Normally According to the Parents

 

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