Indications for Computed Tomography in Patients with Minor Head Injury

Abstract

For the evaluation of patients with minor head injury, the use of CT can be safely limited to those who have certain clinical findings.

Predictors of serious injury among hospitalized patients evaluated for falls

“…Similar findings have been noted in the emergency medicine literature that further support the validity of our findings. 19 Less clear are the reasons for the observed association between having an activity level of ''ambulatory'' ordered and higher risk of injury after an inpatient fall. Prior studies have found that ambulatory inpatients are less likely to use assistive devices that they use at home while hospitalized and are less likely to call for help; these factors may contribute to falls.…”

Head Computed Tomography Utilization for Concussion Patients: Role of the Aging Population

“…Apart from these clinical characteristics, most national and international guidelines include a cutoff value for age, above which a CT scan is strongly recommended. For instance, two of the most commonly applied guidelines for head CT indication, the Canadian CT Head Rule 2 and the New Orleans Criteria, 3 recommend a CT scan for all patients above the cutoffs of 65 and 60 years, respectively. Regarding the data provided by Zonfrillo and colleagues, we calculated that the strongest increase in concussion-related ED visits was within the older age groups: 45 to 65 years (from 92,016 to 129,709, an increase of 41%) and 65+ years (from 49,949 to 74,897, an increase of 50%).…”

Untitled

“…25 A escolha do exame ideal para cada tipo de trauma é essencial para o diagnóstico de possíveis lesões. O vômito tem sido critério adotado por alguns estudos como o New Orleans Criteria (NOC) e o Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR) para a realização de TC em TCE leve.…”