• Adrian Esquivel, Irene Pastrana, Vivienne Marshall, James L Lukefahr, and Ian Mitchell.
• From the Trauma Services.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2020 Feb 1; 36 (2): e61-e65.

BackgroundPediatric nonaccidental trauma (NAT) accounts for more than 1500 deaths annually and is a source of incalculable lifelong morbidity. Evidence-based NAT evaluation protocols are available; however, compliance studies are lacking. Here, we analyze the quality of implementation of a new NAT evaluation protocol.MethodsA review of registry data from a level 3 trauma center was performed for patients with a suspicion of NAT from September 2014 to May 2016. Compliance rates and results of 2 new age-based evaluation protocols were examined before (phase 1) and after (phase 2) a multidisciplinary conference was initiated to improve performance.ResultsSeventy-five children underwent evaluation for NAT during the study period. In phase 1, median compliance rates with all of the protocol elements were low (63%). After a bimonthly multidisciplinary conference was initiated, compliance rates improved to 75%. Some elements, which were often missed, were found to be clinically irrelevant. If only clinically relevant elements were included, median compliance in phase 2 is 86%.ConclusionsCompliance with a new protocol for NAT was improved with the institution of a multidisciplinary conference. Protocol elements, which are shown to be clinically unnecessary, have also been identified and will be eliminated.

17 keywords...

hide…