title: Initial management of pediatric head trauma.
abstract: Head injuries are the most common cause of disability and death in children. Identification of children who require specialized management following a head injury will reduce the associated morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is important to differentiate the child who can be safely observed and who will recover spontaneously from the child who will develop a progressive neurologic deficit from a treatable cause. A thorough history, a tailored neurologic examination and limited radiographic studies will assist the family physician in making this determination.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossitch
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Oakes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000379:methods; D010819:Physician's Role; D011379:Prognosis; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed