PECARN (Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network) Pediatric Head Trauma Algorithm

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PECARN (Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network) Pediatric Head Trauma Algorithm

Age

Age < 2 years Age ≥ 2 years

GCS 14 or palpable skull fracture or AMS?

(agitation, somnolence, repetitive questioning, or slow response to verbal communication)

Yes No

Occipital or parietal or temporal scalp hematoma or history of LOC ≥ 5 sec or severe mechanism of injury?

(motor vehicle collision with patient ejection, death of another passenger, or rollover; pedestrian or bicyclist without helmet struck by motor vehicle; fall from height ≥ 0.9m/3ft; head struck by high-impact object)

Yes No

GCS 14 or signs of basilar skull fracture or AMS?

(agitation, somnolence, repetitive questioning, or slow response to verbal communication)

Yes No

History of LOC or vomiting or severe headache or severe mechanism of injury?

(motor vehicle collision with patient ejection, death of another passenger, or rollover; pedestrian or bicyclist without helmet struck by motor vehicle; fall from height ≥ 1.5m/5ft; head struck by high-impact object)

Yes No

Result:

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