High Rate of Positive CT Scans in Older Patients with Minor Head Trauma

Head computed tomography was positive in two thirds of patients aged >65 with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 15 and no loss of consciousness.

Whether to perform head computed tomography (CT) on patients with minor traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a dilemma. This study assessed whether age and use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy is associated with need for neurosurgical intervention in such patients. Researchers retrospectively reviewed charts of all patients aged >14 years who were admitted to a level I trauma center in Pennsylvania with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of 14 or 15 and underwent neurosurgery from 2007 through 2009.

Of 7678 patients who presented with GCS scores >13, 101 (1.3%) underwent surgery. Rates of neurosurgical intervention were significantly higher in patients aged ≥65 than in younger patients (3.3% vs. 0.6%), as was mortality (15% vs. 0.02%). …

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices