Prediction Rule Definitions

PECARN prediction rule for child 2-18 years of age with minor blunt head trauma

Child is at very low risk of clinically-important traumatic brain injury if all the following are met: 

  • GCS =15 and no other signs of abnormal mental status

  • No history of loss of consciousness

  • No severe mechanism of injury*

  • No history of vomiting

  • No severe headache

  • No signs of basilar skull fracture

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*Severe mechanism is defined as any of the following: fall of more than 5 feet; motor vehicle crash with patient ejection, death of another passenger, or rollover; pedestrian or bicyclist without helmet struck by a motorized vehicle; or head struck by a high impact object.

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Adapted with permission from Kuppermann, N. 2012, from Identification of children at very low risk of clinically-important brain injuries after head trauma: a prospective cohort study. Lancet 2009;374:1160-70.