Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2018; 16(01): 001-007
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604420
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Can a CT be Omitted in Pediatric Minor Head Trauma?

Christoph Arneitz
1   Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Clinical Center Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria
,
Maria Sinzig
2   Section of Pediatric Radiology, Department of Radiology, Clinical Center Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria
,
Eveline Achatz
3   Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry, Clinical Center Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria
,
Günter Fasching
1   Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery, Clinical Center Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

10 November 2016

23 June 2017

Publication Date:
01 August 2017 (online)

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.

 
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