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  • Title: The effect of observation on cranial computed tomography utilization for children after blunt head trauma.
    Author: Nigrovic LE, Schunk JE, Foerster A, Cooper A, Miskin M, Atabaki SM, Hoyle J, Dayan PS, Holmes JF, Kuppermann N, Traumatic Brain Injury Group for the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network.
    Journal: Pediatrics; 2011 Jun; 127(6):1067-73. PubMed ID: 21555498.
    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.
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