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Lindberg DM, Peterson RA, Orsi-Hunt R, Chen PCB, Kille B, Rademacher JG, Hensen C, Listman D, Ong TC. Routine Emergency Department Screening to Decrease Subsequent Physical Abuse. Ann Emerg Med 2024:S0196-0644(24)00236-1. [PMID: 38888534 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Emergency department (ED) screening for child physical abuse has been widely implemented, with uncertain effects on child abuse identification. Our goal was to determine the effect of screening on referrals to child protective services (CPS) identifying abuse. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of children younger than 6 years old with an ED encounter at 1 of 2 large health care systems, one of which implemented routine child abuse screening. The main outcome was initial (<2 days) or subsequent (3 to 180 days) referral to CPS identifying child abuse using linked records. We compared outcomes for the 2-year period after screening was implemented to the preperiod and nonscreening EDs using generalized estimating equations to adjust for sex, age, race/ethnicity, payor and prior ED encounters and clustered by center. RESULTS Of the 331,120 ED encounters, 41,589 (12.6%) occurred at screening EDs during the screening period. Screening was completed in 34,272 (82%) and was positive in 188 (0.45%). Overall, 7,623 encounters (2.3%) had a subsequent referral, of which 589 (0.2%) identified moderate or severe abuse. ED screening did not change initial (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89 to 1.15) or subsequent referral to CPS when compared to the prescreening period (aOR=1.05, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.18) or to the nonscreening EDs (aOR=1.06, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.21). CONCLUSION Routine screening did not affect initial or subsequent referrals to CPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Lindberg
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO; The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO.
| | - Ryan A Peterson
- Department of Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Rebecca Orsi-Hunt
- The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Pang Ching Bobby Chen
- Office of Innovation, Alignment and Accountability, Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, Olympia, WA
| | - Briana Kille
- Analytics Resource Center, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Jacob G Rademacher
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Colin Hensen
- Department of Biostatistics & Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - David Listman
- Department of Pediatrics - Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO; Analytics Resource Center, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO
| | - Toan C Ong
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
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Hymel KP, Carroll CL, Frazier TN, Weeks K, Herman BE, Marinello M, Chen Y, Wang M, Boos SC. Validation of the PediBIRN-7 clinical prediction rule for pediatric abusive head trauma. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 152:106799. [PMID: 38663048 PMCID: PMC11097240 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The PediBIRN-7 clinical prediction rule incorporates the (positive or negative) predictive contributions of completed abuse evaluations to estimate abusive head trauma (AHT) probability after abuse evaluation. Applying definitional criteria as proxies for AHT and non-AHT ground truth, it performed with sensitivity 0.73 (95 % CI: 0.66-0.79), specificity 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.82-0.90), and ROC-AUC 0.88 (95 % CI: 0.85-0.92) in its derivation study. OBJECTIVE To validate the PediBIRN-7's AHT prediction performance in a novel, equivalent, patient population. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS Consecutive, acutely head-injured children <3 years hospitalized for intensive care across eight sites between 2017 and 2020 with completed skeletal surveys and retinal exams (N = 342). METHODS Secondary analysis of an existing, cross-sectional, prospective dataset, including assignment of patient-specific estimates of AHT probability, calculation of AHT prediction performance measures (ROC-AUC, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values), and completion of sensitivity analyses to estimate best- and worst-case prediction performances. RESULTS Applying the same definitional criteria, the PediBIRN-7 performed with sensitivity 0.74 (95 % CI: 0.66-0.81), specificity 0.77 (95 % CI: 0.70-0.83), and ROC-AUC 0.83 (95 % CI: 0.78-0.88). The reduction in ROC-AUC was statistically insignificant (p = .07). Applying physicians' final consensus diagnoses as proxies for AHT and non-AHT ground truth, the PediBIRN-7 performed with sensitivity 0.73 (95 % CI: 0.66-0.79), specificity 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.82-0.90), and ROC-AUC 0.90 (95 % CI: 0.87-0.94). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated minimal changes in rule performance. CONCLUSION The PediBIRN-7's overall AHT prediction performance has been validated in a novel, equivalent, patient population. Its patient-specific estimates of AHT probability can inform physicians' AHT-related diagnostic reasoning after abuse evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent P Hymel
- Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | | | - Terra N Frazier
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Kerri Weeks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, KS, USA
| | - Bruce E Herman
- Professor of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Mark Marinello
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Yiming Chen
- Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Stephen C Boos
- Professor of Pediatrics, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, USA.
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3
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Sokoloff M, Feldman KW, Levin AV, Rockter A, Armijo-Garcia V, Musick M, Weeks K, Haney SB, Marinello M, Herman BE, Frazier TN, Carroll CL, Hymel KP. Retinal hemorrhage variation in inertial versus contact head injuries. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2024; 149:106606. [PMID: 38134727 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abusive head trauma (AHT) is frequently accompanied by dense/extensive retinal hemorrhages to the periphery with or without retinoschisis (complex retinal hemorrhages, cRH). cRH are uncommon without AHT or major trauma. OBJECTIVE The study objectives were to determine whether cRH are associated with inertial vs. contact mechanisms and are primary vs. secondary injuries. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING This retrospective study utilized a de-identified PediBIRN database of 701 children <3-years-old presenting to intensive care for head trauma. Children with motor vehicle related trauma and preexisting brain abnormalities were excluded. All had imaging showing head injury and a dedicated ophthalmology examination. METHODS Contact injuries included craniofacial soft tissue injuries, skull fractures and epidural hematoma. Inertial injuries included acute impairment or loss of consciousness and/or bilateral and/or interhemispheric subdural hemorrhage. Abuse was defined in two ways, by 1) predetermined criteria and 2) caretaking physicians/multidisciplinary team's diagnostic consensus. RESULTS PediBIRN subjects with cRH frequently experienced inertial injury (99.4 % (308/310, OR = 53.74 (16.91-170.77)) but infrequently isolated contact trauma (0.6 % (2/310), OR = 0.02 (0.0004-0.06)). Inertial injuries predominated over contact trauma among children with cRH sorted AHT by predetermined criteria (99.1 % (237/239), OR = 20.20 (6.09-67.01) vs 0.5 % (2/339), OR = 0.04 (0.01-0.17)). Fifty-nine percent of patients with cRH, <24 h altered consciousness, and inertial injuries lacked imaging evidence of brain hypoxia, ischemia, or swelling. CONCLUSIONS cRH are significantly associated with inertial angular acceleration forces. They can occur without brain hypoxia, ischemia or swelling suggesting they are not secondary injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Sokoloff
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care, Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, Spokane, WA, United States of America.
| | - Kenneth W Feldman
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's, University of Washington's Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, Safe Child and Adolescent Network, Seattle Children's, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
| | - Alex V Levin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America.
| | - Adam Rockter
- University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, United States of America.
| | - Veronica Armijo-Garcia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States of America.
| | - Matthew Musick
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States of America.
| | - Kerri Weeks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, KS, United States of America.
| | - Suzanne B Haney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America.
| | - Mark Marinello
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Richmond, VA, United States of America.
| | - Bruce E Herman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America.
| | - Terra N Frazier
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, United States of America.
| | - Christopher L Carroll
- Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, United States of America.
| | - Kent P Hymel
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States of America
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Liu YC, Chen IC, Yin HL, Wu YH, Lo SH, Liang WC, Jaw TS, Dai ZK, Hsu JH. Comparisons of characteristics and outcome between abusive head trauma and non-abusive head trauma in a pediatric intensive care unit. J Formos Med Assoc 2023; 122:1183-1188. [PMID: 37268475 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of death in infants with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Early recognition of AHT is important for improving outcomes, but it can be challenging due to its similar presentations with non-abusive head trauma (nAHT). This study aims to compare clinical presentations and outcomes between infants with AHT and nAHT, and to identify the risk factors for poor outcomes of AHT. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed infants of TBI in our pediatric intensive care unit from January 2014 to December 2020. Clinical manifestations and outcomes were compared between patients with AHT and nAHT. Risk factors for poor outcomes in AHT patients were also analyzed. RESULTS 60 patients were enrolled for this analysis, including 18 of AHT (30%) and 42 of nAHT (70%). Compared with those with nAHT, patients with AHT were more likely to have conscious change, seizures, limb weakness, and respiratory failure, but with a fewer incidence of skull fractures. Additionally, clinical outcomes of AHT patients were worse, with more cases undergoing neurosurgery, higher Pediatric Overall Performance Category score at discharge, and more anti-epileptic drug (AED) use after discharge. For AHT patients, conscious change is an independent risk factor for a composite poor outcome of mortality, ventilator dependence, or AED use (OR = 21.9, P = 0.04) CONCLUSION: AHT has a worse outcome than nAHT. Conscious change, seizures and limb weaknesses but not skull fractures are more common in AHT. Conscious change is both an early reminder of AHT and a risk factor for its poor outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ching Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - I-Chen Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ling Yin
- Department of Clinical Forensic Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsien Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hsing Lo
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chen Liang
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Twei-Shiun Jaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Imaging, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Zen-Kong Dai
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jong-Hau Hsu
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Isaac R, Greeley C, Marinello M, Herman BE, Frazier TN, Carroll CL, Armijo-Garcia V, Musick M, Weeks K, Haney SB, Wang M, Hymel KP. Skeletal survey yields in low vs. high risk pediatric patients with skull fractures. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 139:106130. [PMID: 36905686 PMCID: PMC10120383 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess for occult fractures, physicians often opt to obtain skeletal surveys (SS) in young, acutely head-injured patients who present with skull fractures. Data informing optimal decision management are lacking. OBJECTIVE To determine the positive yields of radiologic SS in young patients with skull fractures presumed to be at low vs. high risk for abuse. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING 476 acutely head injured, skull-fractured patients <3 years hospitalized for intensive care across 18 sites between February 2011 and March 2021. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, secondary analysis of the combined, prospective Pediatric Brain Injury Research Network (PediBIRN) data set. RESULTS 204 (43 %) of 476 patients had simple, linear, parietal skull fractures. 272 (57 %) had more complex skull fracture(s). Only 315 (66 %) of 476 patients underwent SS, including 102 (32 %) patients presumed to be at low risk for abuse (patients who presented with a consistent history of accidental trauma; intracranial injuries no deeper than the cortical brain; and no respiratory compromise, alteration or loss of consciousness, seizures, or skin injuries suspicious for abuse). Only one of 102 low risk patients revealed findings indicative of abuse. In two other low risk patients, SS helped to confirm metabolic bone disease. CONCLUSIONS Less than 1 % of low risk patients under three years of age who presented with simple or complex skull fracture(s) revealed other abusive fractures. Our results could inform efforts to reduce unnecessary skeletal surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reena Isaac
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Christopher Greeley
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mark Marinello
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, 1250 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
| | - Bruce E Herman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA
| | - Terra N Frazier
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Christopher L Carroll
- Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Veronica Armijo-Garcia
- University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Matthew Musick
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kerri Weeks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3243 East Murdoch, Wichita, KS 67208, USA
| | - Suzanne B Haney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USA
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 700 HMC Crescent Road, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Kent P Hymel
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, 600 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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Brook C. Evidence for significant misdiagnosis of abusive head trauma in pediBIRN data. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2023; 6:100314. [PMID: 36691664 PMCID: PMC9860097 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2023.100314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Independently witnessed events are used as a reference standard to robustly categorize accidental or non-abusive head trauma (non-AHT) cases in the pediBIRN data set of acutely symptomatic infants with closed head injuries. Findings in such independently witnessed non-AHT cases are compared to findings in cases that were diagnosed as AHT but were not independently witnessed. The data shows that 14% of independently witnessed non-AHT cases are misdiagnosed as AHT, and that risk factors for misdiagnosis include acute encephalopathy, bilateral or interhemispheric SDH, and/or severe retinal hemorrhages, findings that are commonly associated with AHT. The data also shows that "dense retinal hemorrhages extending to the periphery" are not highly suggestive of AHT, as they also occur in independently witnessed non-AHT cases.
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7
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Greeley C. Advances in child abuse and neglect research and practice. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 134:105875. [PMID: 36088662 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Greeley
- Division of Public Health Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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8
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Even KM, Hymel KP, Armijo-Garcia V, Musick M, Weeks K, Haney SB, Marinello M, Herman BE, Frazier TN, Carroll CL, Liang M, Wang M. The association of subcortical brain injury and abusive head trauma. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 134:105917. [PMID: 36308893 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abusive head trauma (AHT) remains a major pediatric problem with diagnostic challenges. A small pilot study previously associated subcortical brain injury with AHT. OBJECTIVES To investigate the association of subcortical injury on neuroimaging with the diagnosis of AHT. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Children <3 years with acute TBI admitted to 18 PICUs between 2011 and 2021. METHODS Secondary analysis of existing, combined, de-identified, cross-sectional dataset. RESULTS Deepest location of visible injury was characterized as scalp/skull/epidural (n = 170), subarachnoid/subdural (n = 386), cortical brain (n = 170), or subcortical brain (n = 247) (total n = 973). Subcortical injury was significantly associated with AHT using both physicians' diagnostic impression (OR: 8.41 [95 % CI: 5.82-12.44]) and a priori definitional criteria (OR: 5.99 [95 % CI: 4.31-8.43]). Caregiver reports consistent with the child's gross motor skills and historically consistent with repetition decreased as deepest location of injury increased, p < 0.001. Patients with subcortical injuries were significantly more likely to have traumatic extracranial injuries such as rib fractures (OR 3.36, 95 % CI 2.30-4.92) or retinal hemorrhages (OR 5.97, 95 % CI 4.35-8.24), respiratory compromise (OR 12.12, 95 % CI 8.49-17.62), circulatory compromise (OR 6.71, 95 % CI 4.87-9.29), seizures (OR 3.18, 95 % CI 2.35-4.29), and acute encephalopathy (OR 12.44, 95 % CI 8.16-19.68). CONCLUSIONS Subcortical injury is associated with a diagnosis of AHT, historical inaccuracies concerning for abuse, traumatic extracranial injuries, and increased severity of illness including respiratory and circulatory compromise, seizures, and prolonged loss of consciousness. Presence of subcortical injury should be considered as one component of the complex AHT diagnostic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn M Even
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, 600 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Kent P Hymel
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, 600 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Veronica Armijo-Garcia
- University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Matthew Musick
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Kerri Weeks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3243 East Murdoch, Wichita, KS 67208, USA
| | - Suzanne B Haney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USA.
| | - Mark Marinello
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, 1250 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.
| | - Bruce E Herman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Primary Children's Hospital, 100 North Mario Capecchie Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA.
| | - Terra N Frazier
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
| | - Christopher L Carroll
- Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106, USA.
| | - Menglu Liang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 700 HMC Crescent Road, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 700 HMC Crescent Road, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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9
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Hymel KP, Boos SC, Armijo-Garcia V, Musick M, Weeks K, Haney SB, Marinello M, Herman BE, Frazier TN, Carroll CL, Even K, Wang M. An analysis of physicians' diagnostic reasoning regarding pediatric abusive head trauma. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 129:105666. [PMID: 35567958 PMCID: PMC10724711 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physician diagnoses of abusive head trauma (AHT) have been criticized for circular reasoning and over-reliance on a "triad" of findings. Absent a gold standard, analyses that apply restrictive reference standards for AHT and non-AHT could serve to confirm or refute these criticisms. OBJECTIVES To compare clinical presentations and injuries in patients with witnessed/admitted AHT vs. witnessed non-AHT, and with witnessed/admitted AHT vs. physician diagnosed AHT not witnessed/admitted. To measure the triad's AHT test performance in patients with witnessed/admitted AHT vs. witnessed non-AHT. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Acutely head injured patients <3 years hospitalized for intensive care across 18 sites between 2010 and 2021. METHODS Secondary analyses of existing, combined, cross-sectional datasets. Probability values and odds ratios were used to identify and characterize differences. Test performance measures included sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. RESULTS Compared to patients with witnessed non-AHT (n = 100), patients with witnessed/admitted AHT (n = 58) presented more frequently with respiratory compromise (OR 2.94, 95% CI: 1.50-5.75); prolonged encephalopathy (OR 5.23, 95% CI: 2.51-10.89); torso, ear, or neck bruising (OR 11.87, 95% CI: 4.48-31.48); bilateral subdural hemorrhages (OR 8.21, 95% CI: 3.94-17.13); diffuse brain hypoxia, ischemia, or swelling (OR 6.51, 95% CI: 3.06-13.02); and dense, extensive retinal hemorrhages (OR 7.59, 95% CI: 2.85-20.25). All differences were statistically significant (p ≤ .001). No significant differences were observed in patients with witnessed/admitted AHT (n = 58) vs. patients diagnosed with AHT not witnessed/admitted (n = 438). The triad demonstrated AHT specificity and positive predictive value ≥0.96. CONCLUSIONS The observed differences in patients with witnessed/admitted AHT vs. witnessed non-AHT substantiate prior reports. The complete absence of differences in patients with witnessed/admitted AHT vs. physician diagnosed AHT not witnessed/admitted supports an impression that physicians apply diagnostic reasoning informed by knowledge of previously reported injury patterns. Concern for abuse is justified in patients who present with "the triad."
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent P Hymel
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, 600 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Stephen C Boos
- Department of Pediatrics, UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Health, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.
| | - Veronica Armijo-Garcia
- University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Matthew Musick
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Kerri Weeks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3243 East Murdoch, Wichita, KS 67208, USA
| | - Suzanne B Haney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USA.
| | - Mark Marinello
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, 1250 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.
| | - Bruce E Herman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Primary Children's Hospital, 100 North Mario Capecchie Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA.
| | - Terra N Frazier
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
| | - Christopher L Carroll
- Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106, USA.
| | - Katelyn Even
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, 600 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 700 HMC Crescent Road, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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Petska HW, Yin S, Lindberg DM, Beal SJ, Drendel AL, Greiner MV, Wang GS. Drug exposures in young children - The next frontier in occult injury testing. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 127:105575. [PMID: 35276533 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hillary W Petska
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America; Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America.
| | - Shan Yin
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America; University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Daniel M Lindberg
- University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Sarah J Beal
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America; University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
| | - Amy L Drendel
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America; Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America
| | - Mary V Greiner
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America; University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - George Sam Wang
- University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America
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Hymel KP, Karst W, Marinello M, Herman BE, Frazier TN, Carroll CL, Armijo-Garcia V, Musick M, Weeks K, Haney SB, Pashai A, Wang M. Screening for pediatric abusive head trauma: Are three variables enough? CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 125:105518. [PMID: 35082111 PMCID: PMC8842560 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The PediBIRN 4-variable clinical decision rule (CDR) detects abusive head trauma (AHT) with 96% sensitivity in pediatric intensive care (PICU) settings. Preliminary analysis of its performance in Pediatric Emergency Department settings found that elimination of its fourth predictor variable enhanced screening accuracy. OBJECTIVE To compare the AHT screening performances of the "PediBIRN-4" CDR vs. the simplified 3-variable CDR in PICU settings. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS 973 acutely head-injured children <3 years hospitalized for intensive care across 18 sites between February 2011 and March 2021. METHODS Retrospective, secondary analysis of the combined, prospective PediBIRN data sets. AHT definitional criteria and physicians' diagnoses were applied iteratively to sort patients into abusive vs. other head trauma cohorts. Outcome measures of CDR performance included sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, ROC AUC, and the correlation between each CDR's patient-specific estimates of AHT probability and the overall positive yield of patients' completed abuse evaluations. RESULTS Applied accurately and consistently, both CDR's would have performed with sensitivity ≥93% and negative predictive value ≥91%. Eliminating the PediBIRN-4's fourth predictor variable resulted in significantly higher specificity (↑'d ≥19%), positive predictive value (↑'d ≥8%), and ROC AUC (↑'d ≥5%), but a 3% reduction in sensitivity. Both CDRs provided patient-specific estimates of abuse probability very strongly correlated with the positive yield of patients' completed abuse evaluations (Pearson's r = 0.95 and 0.91, p = .13). CONCLUSION The PediBIRN 3-variable CDR performed with greater AHT screening accuracy than the 4-variable CDR. Both are good predictors of the results of patients' subsequent completed abuse evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent P Hymel
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Children's Hospital, 600 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Wouter Karst
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Netherlands Forensic Institute, PO Box 24044, 2490, AA, The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Mark Marinello
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, 1250 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.
| | - Bruce E Herman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Primary Children's Hospital, 100 North Mario Capecchie Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA.
| | - Terra N Frazier
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
| | - Christopher L Carroll
- Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106, USA.
| | - Veronica Armijo-Garcia
- University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Matthew Musick
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Kerri Weeks
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3243 East Murdoch, Wichita, KS 67208, USA
| | - Suzanne B Haney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, 8200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, USA.
| | - Afshin Pashai
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 700 HMC Crescent Road, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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12
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Gurka MJ. Cluster Randomized Trials in Pediatric Research. J Pediatr 2021; 236:333-334. [PMID: 34126121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Gurka
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
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13
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Lindberg DM. What Will it Take to Achieve Routine Screening for Abuse? J Pediatr 2021; 236:10-11. [PMID: 34022246 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Lindberg
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
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