@article{ref1,
title="Application of PECARN rules would significantly decrease CT rates in a Dutch cohort of children with minor traumatic head injuries",
journal="European journal of pediatrics",
year="2020",
author="Niele, Nicky and van Houten, Marlies and Tromp, Ellen and van Goudoever, J. B. and Plötz, Frans B.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="The aim of this study was to determine the potential impact of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) rules on the CT rate in a large paediatric minor traumatic head injury (MTHI) cohort and compare this with current national Dutch guidelines. This was a planned sub-study of a prospective multicentre observational study that enrolled 1006 children younger than 18 years with MTHI. We calculated the number of recommended CT scans and described trauma-related CT scan abnormalities. The PECARN rules recommended a significantly lower percentage of CT scans in all age categories, namely 101/357 (28.3%) versus 164/357 (45.9%) (p < 0.001) in patients under 2 years of age and 148/623 (23.8%) versus 394/623 (63.2%) (p < 0,001) versus in patients 2 years and older.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The projected CT rate can significantly be reduced if the PECARN rules are applied. We therefore advocate that the PECARN guidelines are also implemented in The Netherlands.What is Known:• To guide clinicians whether to perform a CT scan in children with a minor traumatic head injury (MTHI) clinical decision rules has been developed.• The overall CT scan rate in adherence with the Dutch MTHI guidelines is 44%.What is New:• The projected CT rate can significantly be reduced in a Dutch cohort of MTHI if the PECARN rules are applied.• The Dutch national guidelines for MTHI can safely be replaced by the PECARN rules.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0340-6199",
doi="10.1007/s00431-020-03649-w",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431-020-03649-w"
}