Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41168835›Full record

ArticleTrials2025

SaVeBRAIN.Kids-study protocol for a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge trial to reduce hospitalizations for mild traumatic brain injury in children in Germany.

Nora Bruns, Pia Brensing, Linda von der Heiden, Christian Dohna-Schwake, Simone Schwarz, Johanna Wagner, Eva-Maria Huessler, Michael Nonnemacher, Anja Neumann, Frederik Valbert and 16 more

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

26 authors.

Nora BrunsDepartment of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. Nora.bruns@uk-essen.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-1887
Pia BrensingDepartment of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Linda von der HeidenDepartment of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Christian Dohna-SchwakeDepartment of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Simone SchwarzDepartment of Pediatrics I, Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Johanna WagnerDepartment of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine and LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Eva-Maria HuesslerCentre of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Michael NonnemacherCentre of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Anja NeumannInstitute for Health Care Management and Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany.
Frederik ValbertInstitute for Health Care Management and Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany.
Silke NeusserInstitute for Health Care Management and Research in Essen (EsFoMed), Essen, Germany.
Roman PeterInstitute of Information Systems, University of Applied Sciences Hof, Hof, Germany.
Dirk ReinelInstitute of Information Systems, University of Applied Sciences Hof, Hof, Germany.
Joerg ScheidtInstitute of Information Systems, University of Applied Sciences Hof, Hof, Germany.
Yannic SiebenhaarInstitute of Information Systems, University of Applied Sciences Hof, Hof, Germany.
Johannes DrescherSmartlytic GmbH, Hof, Germany.
Florian WogensteinSmartlytic GmbH, Hof, Germany.
Laura HoersterMedEcon Ruhr GmbH, Bochum, Germany.
Berit SchoppenMedEcon Ruhr GmbH, Bochum, Germany.
Ala Edin AbdinMedEcon Ruhr GmbH, Bochum, Germany.
Sven Marx, Smx Consulting, Pfullingen, Germany.
Petra May, Smx Consulting, Pfullingen, Germany.
Anika HüsingCentre of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Andreas StangCentre of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Florian HeinenDepartment of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine and LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Michaela BonfertDepartment of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine and LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

Funding

Innovationsfond des G-BA 01NVF23108
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most important pediatric conditions worldwide. In Germany, hospitalization rates for mild TBI drastically exceed hospitalization rates from similar healthcare systems.

methodsThe SaVeBRAIN.Kids trial will implement and test a novel care pathway (nCP) for evidence-based standardized risk assessment, structured observation in the emergency department (ED) for several hours, and technology-supported home monitoring with the aim to reduce hospitalizations. This non-inferiority multicenter study will be carried out using a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge design, with all centers starting in the control phase and sequentially transitioning to the intervention. Eligible participants (age ≥ 3 months and < 18 years) must present within 48 h of head injury, have minimal symptoms (Glasgow coma scale ≥ 14), and no risk factors for intracranial complications. The co-primary outcomes are the relative risk of hospitalization and the proportion of unplanned re-visits within 72 h of presentation to the ED for ambulatory cases. Secondary outcomes include clinical safety measures, cost-effectiveness, and process evaluation. Based on power calculations (α = 0.05, power = 0.9), 1390 patients will be recruited over 12 months. DISCUSSION: The SaVeBRAIN.Kids trial addresses a relevant healthcare challenge by testing a new approach to pediatric mild TBI management in Germany. It aligns with current evidence while accounting for the country's specific healthcare context. If successful, the intervention could substantially reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and free inpatient capacities while preserving patient safety.

trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Registry (DRKS00035623). Registered on January 21, 2025.

Indexed as

Brain ConcussionCritical PathwaysHospitalizationAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolCost-Benefit AnalysisEmergency Service, HospitalEquivalence Trials as TopicFemaleGermanyHumansInfantMaleMulticenter Studies as TopicRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicHospitalizationMild traumatic brain injuryNovel care pathwayPediatric

Identifiers

PMID41168835
PMCPMC12577025

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.