The effect of observation on cranial computed tomography utilization for children after blunt head trauma

Pediatrics. 2011 Jun;127(6):1067-73. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-3373. Epub 2011 May 9.

Abstract

Objective: Children with minor blunt head trauma often are observed in the emergency department before a decision is made regarding computed tomography use. We studied the impact of this clinical strategy on computed tomography use and outcomes.

Methods: We performed a subanalysis of a prospective multicenter observational study of children with minor blunt head trauma. Clinicians completed case report forms indicating whether the child was observed before making a decision regarding computed tomography. We defined clinically important traumatic brain injury as an intracranial injury resulting in death, neurosurgical intervention, intubation for longer than 24 hours, or hospital admission for 2 nights or longer. To compare computed tomography rates between children observed and those not observed before a decision was made regarding computed tomography use, we used a generalized estimating equation model to control for hospital clustering and patient characteristics.

Results: Of 42 412 children enrolled in the study, clinicians noted if the patient was observed before making a decision on computed tomography in 40 113 (95%). Of these, 5433 (14%) children were observed. The computed tomography use rate was lower in those observed than in those not observed (31.1% vs 35.0%; difference: -3.9% [95% confidence interval: -5.3 to -2.6]), but the rate of clinically important traumatic brain injury was similar (0.75% vs 0.87%; difference: -0.1% [95% confidence interval: -0.4 to 0.1]). After adjustment for hospital and patient characteristics, the difference in the computed tomography use rate remained significant (adjusted odds ratio for obtaining a computed tomography in the observed group: 0.53 [95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.66]).

Conclusions: Clinical observation was associated with reduced computed tomography use among children with minor blunt head trauma and may be an effective strategy to reduce computed tomography use.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Head Injuries, Closed / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skull / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / statistics & numerical data*
  • Trauma Centers
  • Trauma Severity Indices