New rule could spare thousands of infants from unnecessary brain scans
NCT ID NCT03050970
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at over 8,800 infants under 2 years old who came to the emergency room with a minor head injury. Researchers wanted to see if a special checklist (the PELICAN rule) could help doctors decide when a CT scan is truly needed. The goal is to avoid unnecessary radiation in young children while still catching any serious brain injuries.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could give doctors a reliable tool to decide which infants need a CT scan after a minor head bump, reducing unnecessary radiation exposure.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. The rule may not work perfectly in all settings, and some serious injuries could still be missed.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Pediatric Emergency Department - Necker-Enfants malades Hospital -
Paris, Paris, 75015, France
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