Admission Rates for Isolated Pediatric Skull Fractures

Although 78% of children were admitted, most stayed for only 1 day and had few interventions.

Researchers retrospectively assessed the rate of hospital admissions and interventions in children <19 years of age with isolated skull fracture who presented to 40 U.S. tertiary pediatric emergency departments (EDs) between 2005 and 2011. Isolated skull fracture was defined as a nondisplaced skull fracture in a patient without other injury diagnoses, evidence of intracranial hemorrhage, or fracture to the base of the skull.

Of 3915 children (median age, 7 months) with isolated skull fracture, 78% were admitted, with 4% admitted to an intensive care unit. Of admitted patients, 85% were discharged within 1 day, 7% underwent skeletal surveys, 1% received repeat head computed tomography, and 1% had a new diagnosis of physical abuse. Only 1 pati…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)