Study Assessing Evaluation of the Interest of Serum S100B Protein Determination in the Management of Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a very common reason for presentation to pediatric emergency departments. So as not to overlook the risk of complications, which occur at a rate of 0-7%, measures such as cranial computed tomography (CCT-scan) and/or short inpatient observation are prescribed. Ultimately, the majority of these measures could be avoided and a large Australian cohort shows that the risk of brain tumors is 2.44 times higher for children who had a CCT-scan (3.24 for age 1-4 years). Assay of a sensitive biomarker in blood, such as the S100B protein, has the potential to reduce the number of these unnecessary measures.

Based on initial results from a previous prospective study, a multicenter interventional study will be necessary to validate the routine use of this biomarker .The ultimate goal is to include serum S100B assay in the current recommendations for m traumatic brain injury (mTBI) management based on the study of Kupperman et al. (2009), as mTBI accounts for 5-8% of pediatric emergency admissions in France (60-100 per 100,000 children). The study of Kuppermann et al. strongly dictated the recommendations for mTBI management by the French Society of Emergency Medicine (SFMU) . Then, from these 2 publications, the French Society of Pediatrics (SFP) redacted their recommendations after adjustment method recommendations for clinical practice, used by the French High Authority of Health (HAS) . The use of serum S100B assay as part of the management of pediatric mTBI should make it possible to reduce the number of additional examinations, in particular a 30% reduction in the number of CCT-scans, with a resultant reduction in radiation exposure, known to be a risk factor for cancer. The study protocol corresponds to a diagnostic prospective, controlled, multicenter study using a randomized stepped wedge cluster design, in which pediatric patients (aged ≤ 16 years) presenting to the pediatric emergency room for mTBI with a GCS score of 15 will benefit from usual care ("conventional management" arm) in the control group, and from S100B management in the interventional group.