Emergency Department Observation of Children with Minor Head Injury Reduces Use of Computed Tomography

But does not impair identification of clinically important traumatic brain injuries

In a secondary analysis of data from the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (JW Emerg Med Sep 25 2009), researchers evaluated whether observing children (age, <18 years) with minor head injury before deciding whether to obtain a head computed tomography (CT) scan affects use of CT and diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Data on duration of observation were not collected.

Of 40,113 patients (median age, 5.6 years), 5433 (14%) were observed. Observed patients were significantly less likely to undergo CT than patients who were not observed (31% vs. 35%). After adjustment for clinical covariates, the likelihood of CT scanning remained lower for patients who were observed (adjusted odds ratio, 0.53). Rates of clinically impo…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)