Incidence of delayed intracranial hemorrhage in children after uncomplicated minor head injuries.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine the incidence of delayed diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage in the general population and the proportion of children who presented to emergency departments (EDs) with uncomplicated minor head injuries who received delayed diagnoses of intracranial hemorrhage.


METHODS
This was an 8-year, retrospective, cohort study of children <14 years of age who presented to EDs in the Calgary Health Region between April 1992 and March 2000. Cases of uncomplicated minor head injuries and delayed diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage (intracranial hemorrhage not apparent until > or =6 hours after injury) were identified.


RESULTS
An estimated 17,962 children (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17,412-18,511 children) with uncomplicated minor head injuries were evaluated at Calgary Health Region EDs. Two and 8 children were identified as having delayed diagnoses of intracranial hemorrhage with and without delayed deterioration in level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale scores of <15), respectively. The proportions of children with uncomplicated minor head injuries with delayed diagnoses of intracranial hemorrhage with and without deterioration in level of consciousness were approximately 0.00% (0 of 17,962 children [upper limit of 95% CI: 0.02%]) and 0.03% (5 of 17,962 children [95% CI: 0.01%-0.07%]), respectively. On the basis of population data for the Calgary Health Region, the incidences of delayed diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage with and without deterioration in level of consciousness were 0.14 and 0.57 cases per 100,000 children per year, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of delayed diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage among children who present with uncomplicated minor head injuries is rare.
Hamilton
Mark
M
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Mrazik
Martin
M
Johnson
David W
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000639:trends*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed