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Saran M, Arab-Zozani M, Behzadifar M, Gholami M, Azari S, Bragazzi NL, Behzadifar M. Overuse of computed tomography for mild head injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293558. [PMID: 38206917 PMCID: PMC10783716 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Computed tomography (CT) scan is a common imaging technique used to evaluate the severity of a head injury. The overuse of diagnostic interventions in the health system is a growing concern worldwide. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the rate of CT scan overuse in cases of mild head injury. METHODS Eligibility criteria: We encompassed observational studies-either designed as cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional investigations-that reported on CT scan overuse rates for mild head injuries. Studies had to be published in peer-reviewed, English-language sources and provide full content access Information sources: Web of Sciences, Scopus, Medline via PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Embase were searched from inception until April 1, 2023. Studies were included if reporting the overuse of CT scans for mild head injuries using validated criteria. Risk of bias: We used the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool to evaluate the risk bias assessment of included studies. Two independent reviewers evaluated the eligibility of studies, extracted data, and assessed study quality by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Synthesis of results: Overuse estimates were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate any sources of heterogeneity. Point rate of overuse of CT scans for mild head injuries was the main outcome measured as percentage point estimates with corresponding 95% CIs. RESULTS Included studies: Of the 913 potentially relevant studies identified, eight studies were selected for the final analysis. Synthesis of results: The pooled rate of CT scan overuse in patients with mild head injury was found to be 27% [95% CI: 16-43; I2 = 99%]. The rate of CT scan overuse in mild head injury cases varied depending on the criteria used. The rate of CT scan overuse was 37% [95% CI: 32-42; I2 = 0%] with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), 30% [95% CI: 16-49; I2 = 99%] with the Canadian computed tomography head rule, and 10% [95% CI: 8-14; I2 = 0%] with the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network criterion (PERCAN). Based on subgroup analyses, the rate of CT scan overuse in mild head injury cases was observed to be 30% with the Canadian computed tomography head rule criterion, 43% with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence criterion, and 18% with the New Orleans criterion. CONCLUSION Limitations of evidence: The restricted number of included studies may impact generalizability. High heterogeneity was observed, leading to subgroup analyses based on age, assessment criteria, and study region. Absent data on overuse causes hinders drawing conclusions on contributing factors. Furthermore, this study solely addressed overuse rates, not associated harm or benefits. Interpretation: The overuse of CT scans in mild head injury patients is concerning, as it can result in unnecessary radiation exposure and higher healthcare costs. Clinicians and policymakers should prioritize the implementation of guidelines to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure, healthcare costs, and potential harm to patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study protocol of this review was registered in PROSPERO under the identification code CRD42023416080. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023416080.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Saran
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Morteza Arab-Zozani
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Meysam Behzadifar
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Gholami
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Samad Azari
- Hospital Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- Human Nutrition Unit Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma Medical School, Parma, Italy
| | - Masoud Behzadifar
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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Sakkas A, Weiß C, Ebeling M, Wilde F, Pietzka S, Mohammad Q, Thiele OC, Mischkowski RA. Clinical Indicators for Primary Cranial CT Imaging after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-A Retrospective Analysis. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12103563. [PMID: 37240668 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12103563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary aim was to determine the clinical indicators for primary cranial CT imaging in patients after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The secondary aim was to evaluate the need for post-traumatic short-term hospitalization based on primary clinical and CT findings. This was an observational retrospective single-centre study of all the patients who were admitted with mTBI over a five-year period. Demographic and anamnesis data, the clinical and radiological findings, and the outcome were analyzed. An initial cranial CT (CT0) was performed at admission. Repeat CT scans (CT1) were performed after positive CT0 findings and in cases with in-hospital secondary neurological deterioration. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and the patient's outcome were evaluated using descriptive statistical analysis. A multivariable analysis was performed to find associations between the clinical variables and the pathologic CT findings. A total of 1837 patients (mean age: 70.7 years) with mTBI were included. Acute ICH was detected in 102 patients (5.5%), with a total of 123 intracerebral lesions. In total, 707 (38.4%) patients were admitted for 48 h for in-hospital observation and six patients underwent an immediate neurosurgical intervention. The prevalence of delayed ICH was 0.05%. A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of <15, loss of consciousness, amnesia, seizures, cephalgia, somnolence, dizziness, nausea, and clinical signs of fracture were identified as clinical factors with significantly higher risk of acute ICH. None of the 110 CT1 presented clinical relevance. A GCS of <15, loss of consciousness, amnesia, seizures, cephalgia, somnolence, dizziness, nausea, and clinical signs of cranial fractures should be considered absolute indicators for primary cranial CT imaging. The reported incidence of immediate and delayed traumatic ICH was very low and hospitalization should be decided individually considering both the clinical and CT findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Sakkas
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, German Armed Forces Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Christel Weiß
- Medical Statistics and Biomathematics, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 69167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcel Ebeling
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, German Armed Forces Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Frank Wilde
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, German Armed Forces Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sebastian Pietzka
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, German Armed Forces Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Qasim Mohammad
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ludwigshafen Hospital, 67063 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Oliver Christian Thiele
- Department of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial-Surgery, Ludwigshafen Hospital, 67063 Ludwigshafen, Germany
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Rhame K, Le D, Ventura A, Horner A, Andaluz N, Miller C, Stolz U, Ngwenya LB, Adeoye O, Kreitzer N. Management of the mild traumatic brain injured patient using a multidisciplinary observation unit protocol. Am J Emerg Med 2020; 46:176-182. [PMID: 33071105 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.06.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We developed an ED based multidisciplinary observation unit (OU) protocol for patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We describe the cohort of patients who were placed in the ED OU and we evaluated if changes to our inclusion and exclusion criteria should be made. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate subjects who were admitted to the mTBI observation protocol. We included adults within 24 h of sustaining an mTBI with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 14 or 15 who had pre-specified head CT findings, and did not meet exclusion criteria. Predictors of need for hospital admission after completing the OU protocol were determined using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The mean age was 49 (SD 23), 58 (33%) were female, and 136 (78%) were Caucasian. No subjects discharged home required a surgical intervention or ICU admission, and there were no deaths in discharged or admitted subjects. 28 subjects (16%) were admitted to the hospital following their OU stay. Subjects admitted were older (mean age: 56 vs. 48, p = 0.1) and had a higher proportion of traumatic bleeds on head CT (85% vs. 76%, p = 0.3). In multivariable logistic regression, GCS of 15 (aOR 4.24), African-American race (aOR 5.84), and no comorbid cardiac disease predicted discharge home after the observation protocol (aOR 0.28). CONCLUSIONS A period of observation for a pre-defined cohort of patients with mTBI provided a triage plan that could allow appropriate patient management without requiring admission in the majority of subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Rhame
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Diana Le
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Amanda Ventura
- University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine, United States of America
| | - Amy Horner
- University of Cincinnati Department of Neurosurgery, United States of America
| | - Norberto Andaluz
- University of Louisville Department of Neurosurgery, United States of America
| | - Christopher Miller
- University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Uwe Stolz
- University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine, United States of America
| | - Laura B Ngwenya
- University of Cincinnati Department of Neurosurgery, United States of America; University of Cincinnati, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, United States of America; University of Cincinnati Collaborative for Research on Acute Neurological Injury, United States of America
| | - Opeolu Adeoye
- University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine, United States of America; University of Cincinnati Division of Neurocritical Care, United States of America
| | - Natalie Kreitzer
- University of Cincinnati Department of Emergency Medicine, United States of America; University of Cincinnati Division of Neurocritical Care, United States of America.
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Trevisi G, Scerrati A, Peppucci E, DeWaure C, Anile C, Mangiola A. What Is the Best Timing of Repeated CT Scan in Mild Head Trauma with an Initially Positive CT Scan? World Neurosurg 2018; 118:e316-e322. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.06.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Marincowitz C, Lecky FE, Townend W, Borakati A, Fabbri A, Sheldon TA. The Risk of Deterioration in GCS13-15 Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Identified by Computed Tomography Imaging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Neurotrauma 2018; 35:703-718. [PMID: 29324173 PMCID: PMC5831640 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2017.5259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The optimal management of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with injuries identified by computed tomography (CT) brain scan is unclear. Some guidelines recommend hospital admission for an observation period of at least 24 h. Others argue that selected lower-risk patients can be discharged from the Emergency Department (ED). The objective of our review and meta-analysis was to estimate the risk of death, neurosurgical intervention, and clinical deterioration in mild TBI patients with injuries identified by CT brain scan, and assess which patient factors affect the risk of these outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA standards of protocol and reporting were conducted. Study selection was performed by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis using a random effects model was undertaken to estimate pooled risks for: clinical deterioration, neurosurgical intervention, and death. Meta-regression was used to explore between-study variation in outcome estimates using study population characteristics. Forty-nine primary studies and five reviews were identified that met the inclusion criteria. The estimated pooled risk for the outcomes of interest were: clinical deterioration 11.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.7%-15.8%), neurosurgical intervention 3.5% (95% CI: 2.2%-4.9%), and death 1.4% (95% CI: 0.8%-2.2%). Twenty-one studies presented within-study estimates of the effect of patient factors. Meta-regression of study characteristics and pooling of within-study estimates of risk factor effect found the following factors significantly affected the risk for adverse outcomes: age, initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), type of injury, and anti-coagulation. The generalizability of many studies was limited due to population selection. Mild TBI patients with injuries identified by CT brain scan have a small but clinically important risk for serious adverse outcomes. This review has identified several prognostic factors; research is needed to derive and validate a usable clinical decision rule so that low-risk patients can be safely discharged from the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Marincowitz
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona E. Lecky
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - William Townend
- Emergency Department, Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Aditya Borakati
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Fabbri
- Emergency Unit, Presidio Ospedaliero Morgagni-Pierantoni, AUSL della Romagna, Forlì, Italy
| | - Trevor A. Sheldon
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Alcuin Research Resource Center, Heslington, York, United Kingdom
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Stippler M, Liu J, Motiei-Langroudi R, Voronovich Z, Yonas H, Davis RB. Complicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and the Need for Imaging Surveillance. World Neurosurg 2017; 105:265-269. [PMID: 28502689 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the need for repeat head computed tomography (CT) in patients with complicated mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) determined nonoperative after the first head CT. METHODS A total of 380 patients with mild TBI and a positive head CT not needing surgery were included. Changes between first and second head CT were categorized as decreased, increased, or stable. RESULTS Three patients required neurosurgical intervention (0.8%) after the second CT. There were no significant differences in demographics including age, gender, alcohol consumption, anticoagulation status, time between first and second CT, Glasgow Coma Scale score at admission and discharge, and incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, contusion, or skull fractures between the operated and nonoperated groups. All patients in the operated group had subdural hematoma compared with 40.8% in the nonoperated group (P = 0.07). All operated patients showed symptoms of neurologic worsening after initial head CT, compared with 2.7% in the nonoperated group (P < 0.001). Moreover, patients who showed neurologic worsening were more likely to show increased intracranial bleeding on repeat head CT, whereas patients who did not show neurologic worsening were more likely to show decreased or stable intracranial bleeding (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Routine repeat head CT in patients with complicated mild TBI is very low yield to predict need for delayed surgical intervention. Instead, serial neurologic examination and observation over the first 8 hours after the injury is recommended. A second CT scan should be obtained only in patients who have neurologic worsening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Stippler
- Neurosurgery Service, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Jingyi Liu
- School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rouzbeh Motiei-Langroudi
- Neurosurgery Service, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zoya Voronovich
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Howard Yonas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Roger B Davis
- Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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