Practice Guideline for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children

A CDC expert panel offers evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, prognosis, and management of mTBI.

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Target Audience: Pediatric primary care and emergency care providers

Background and Objective

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is defined as an acute brain injury resulting from head trauma with disorientation, loss of consciousness, amnesia, or neurological symptoms and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 to 15. A CDC expert working group has now developed the first evidence-based clinical guideline for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric mTBI.

Key Recommendations

Diagnosis

Do not routinely obtain head computed tomography (CT), brain MRI, single photon emission CT, or skull radiographs.
Identify risk factors for serious injury (age <2 years, vomiting, loss of consciousness, …

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)