Central Nervous System Injuries
Clinical Vignette Assessment
A 2-year-old boy is brought to the Emergency Department 30 minutes after falling from a playground structure, an estimated 5-foot drop. His parents report he cried immediately but was briefly "dazed" for about 30 seconds. Since then, he has been more irritable than usual and vomited once. On exam, he is alert but fussy. Vital signs: HR 110, RR 24, BP 90/60, SpO2 100% on room air. There is a 3 cm boggy, tender swelling over the right parietal area of the scalp. The anterior fontanelle is closed. Neurologic exam reveals pupils that are equal, round, and reactive to light. He moves all four extremities spontaneously and withdraws from painful stimuli appropriately.
Q1: According to the PECARN (Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network) head injury decision rules, which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management for this patient?
Assessment Complete
You have finished the Central Nervous System Injuries module.