Heading for a fall? Management of head injury in infants

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Emergency Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Head injury is a frequent cause for infant Emergency Department (ED) visits.
• Clinical management and admission rates for infant head injuries vary significantly, often influenced by concerns of non-accidental injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the incidence of traumatic brain injury in infants under one year presenting with head trauma.
• To assess the safety and outcomes of discharging these young patients from the ED.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study was conducted on 103 infants (< 1 year) presenting to the ED with head injury.
• Data collected included patient demographics, diagnostic imaging (skull X-rays, CT scans), and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

• The average age of patients was 6.7 months, with 57% being male.
• Skull X-rays were performed on 28 infants, diagnosing one skull fracture; no CT scans were required.
• A high proportion (94%) of infants were discharged directly from the ED without adverse events, unplanned returns, or readmissions.

Conclusions:

• The incidence of traumatic brain injury in infants under one year presenting with head injury is low.
• The majority of infants experiencing head injury can be safely managed and discharged from the Emergency Department.