@article{ref1,
title="Pediatric abusive head trauma: return to hospital system in the first year post injury",
journal="Neurosurgery",
year="2019",
author="Fraser, Brittany D. and Lingo, P. Ryan and Khan, Nickalus R. and Vaughn, Brandy N. and Klimo, Paul",
volume="85",
number="1",
pages="E66-E74",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Abusive head trauma (AHT) may result in costly, long-term sequelae. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To describe the burden of AHT on the hospital system within the first year of injury. <br><br>METHODS: Single institution retrospective evaluation of AHT cases from January 2009 to August 2016. Demographic, clinical (including injury severity graded I-III), and charge data associated with both initial and return hospital visits within 1 yr of injury were extracted. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 278 cases of AHT were identified: 60% male, 76% infant, and 54% African-American. Of these 278 cases, 162 (60%) returned to the hospital within the first year, resulting in 676 total visits (an average of 4.2 returns/patient). Grade I injuries were less likely to return than more serious injuries (II and III). The majority were outpatient services (n = 430, 64%); of the inpatient readmissions, neurosurgery was the most likely service to be involved (44%). Neurosurgical procedures accounted for the majority of surgeries performed during both initial admission and readmission (85% and 68%, respectively). Increasing injury severity positively correlated with charges for both the initial admission and returns (P < .001 for both). Total calculated charges, including initial admission and returns, were over $25 million USD. <br><br>CONCLUSION: AHT has a high potential for return to the hospital system within the first year. Inpatient charges dominate and account for the vast majority of hospital returns and overall charges. A more severe initial injury correlates with increased charges on initial admission and on subsequent hospital return.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0148-396X",
doi="10.1093/neuros/nyy456",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyy456"
}