Our Validated Clinical Decision Rule

To minimize missed cases, every acutely head-injured infant or young child hospitalized for intensive care who presents with one or more of these four predictor variables should be considered “high risk” and thoroughly evaluated for abuse.

• Any clinically-significant respiratory compromise at the scene of injury, during transport, in the Emergency Department, or prior to admission
• Any bruising involving the child’s ear(s), neck or torso
• Any subdural hemorrhage(s) or fluid collection(s) that are bilateral OR involve the
  interhemispheric space
• Any skull fracture(s) other than an isolated, unilateral, nondiastatic, linear, parietal skull
  fracture
  

Disclaimer

The User acknowledges and agrees that the Clinical Decision Rule (CDR) and all content available through this website is appropriate only as a decision aid, and in conjunction with the clinical management of a qualified healthcare provider. It is not intended to be a substitute for the exercise of professional medical judgment or the appropriate standard of care. The CDR and all associated content on this website is provided without representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, about the efficacy of the CDR. Penn State University, the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the Pediatric Brain Injury Research Network, and the clinician investigators who developed the CDR are not responsible or liable for loss or damage of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use of, reference to, or reliance on this website or CDR. By continuing to use the CDR and this website, you have indicated your acceptance of these terms.