Many CT Scans for Minor Head Injuries Unnecessary, Study Finds

A study published in the November 2012 issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safetyfound that as many as a third of CT scans of patients with mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBIs) may not be necessary. The study, which examined scans at a single facility, found that 10% to 35% were not recommended according to evidence-based guidelines.

The authors aimed to quantify the overuse of CT in MTBI by conducting a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 346 adult MTBI patients who received a CT scan at an urban, Level I ED. The authors reported the proportion of MTBI cases meeting criteria for CT on the basis of various standards and guidelines: 64.7% of the scans met the standards established by the Canadian CT Head Rule, 74.3%...