Diagnostic value of emergency medical services provider judgement in the identification of head injuries among trauma patients

Background and purpose: Previous studies have reported that many patients with a severe head injury are not transported to a higher-level trauma centre where the necessary round-the-clock neurosurgical care is available. The aim of this study was to analyse the diagnostic value of emergency medical services (EMS) provider judgement in the identification of a head injury.

Methods: In this multicentre cohort study, all trauma patients aged 16 years and over who were transported with highest priority to a trauma centre were evaluated. The diagnostic value of EMS provider judgement was determined using an Abbreviated Injury Scale score of ≥1 in the head region as reference standard.

Results: A total of 980 (35.4%) of the 2766 patients who were included had a head injury. EMS provider judgement (Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥1) had a sensitivity of 67.9% and a specificity of 87.7%. In the cohort, 208 (7.5%) patients had a severe head injury. Of these, 68% were transported to a level I trauma centre.

Conclusions: Identification of a head injury on-scene is challenging. EMS providers could not identify 32% of the patients with a head injury and 21% of the patients with a severe head injury. Additional education, training and a supplementary protocol with predictors of a severe head injury could help EMS providers in the identification of these patients.