Red Flags in Pediatric Head Trauma: A Multicenter Analysis of Predictors of Intracranial Injury
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of childhood mortality. The early identification of variables that predict adverse outcomes may help refine clinical decisions. This study aimed to determine the variables associated with poor outcomes in pediatric TBI. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted in pediatric patients with TBI admitted at a public and a private reference center in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Nineteen demographic and clinical variables were assessed as predictors of intracranial hemorrhage, skull fracture, neurosurgical intervention, and mortality using multivariable logistic regression. Results: A total of 3,049 patients were evaluated (58.9% male) from 2019 to 2020. The mean age was 5.6 years (SD 5.3; median 3.6). Falls were the most frequent mechanism of trauma (84%), and a cranial tomography was performed in 37.4% of cases. Intracranial hemorrhage was associated with severe TBI (OR 63), periorbital ecchymosis (OR 7.07), and traffic-accident (OR 5.05). Skull fracture was associated with retromastoid ecchymosis (OR 22.8), severe TBI (OR 16.3), and post-traumatic seizure (OR 9.05). Severe TBI (OR 50.2), anisocoria (OR 6.44), and abusive head trauma (OR 4.32) were related to neurosurgical intervention. Conclusions: This large multicenter study reinforces the importance of TBI severity, as assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale, as well as the role of abusive head trauma as a predictor of poor outcomes. The development of novel algorithms should be encouraged to improve care for pediatric trauma.
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7213393430