Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the need for radiation exposure in pediatric minor head
trauma. Symptomatic patients after minor head trauma were observed for at least 24
hours in a 13-month period. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed on children
with a depressed neurological status. Two hundred fourteen patients with a mean age
of 9.3 years were included. An intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) was diagnosed in three
(1.4%) patients. The overall CT rate was 10.7%. The study concluded that neuro-observation
without initial CT scans is safe in infants and children following minor head trauma.
Special pediatric CT protocol can limit radiation exposure.
Keywords
radiation exposure - pediatric - minor head trauma
