The role of early follow-up computed tomography imaging in the management of traumatic brain injury patients with intracranial hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether routine follow-up computed tomography (CT) for patients with head injury, in the absence of clinical indications, alters patient management.


METHODS
Nonpenetrating head injury patients admitted to San Francisco General Hospital during an 18-month period were reviewed. Patients not surgically treated at presentation and with a routine follow-up head CT within 24 hours were included. Surgical and nonsurgical interventions after repeat CT were assessed. Clinical and imaging parameters were correlated with progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI) and with delayed development of surgical lesions.


RESULTS
PHI was identified in 49 (42%) of 116 patients. None of these patients required a nonoperative intervention in response to the PHI. Six of these patients developed a neurologic change concurrent with routine follow-up imaging and required operative intervention. Thus, no patient underwent an intervention in response to a worsening head CT in the absence of clinical findings. Of the six patients who developed a surgical lesion, two had increased intracranial pressure, one had a change in pupillary examination, three had worsening mental status, and one had change in the motor examination. Univariate risk factors for development of a delayed surgical lesion included 5 to 10 mm of midline shift (p = 0.001), basal cistern effacement (p = 0.01), and higher Marshall score (p = 0.01) on initial CT imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
Although PHI is common with head injury, delayed interventions in the absence of clinical indicators are uncommon. Our data suggest that early follow-up CT imaging in the setting of head trauma is not routinely indicated. We suggest that assessment, based on the severity of findings on initial brain imaging and serial clinical examinations, should guide the need for follow-up imaging in the setting of head trauma.
Smith
Justin S
JS
Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF Brain and Spinal Injury Center, San Francisco General Hospital and University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94143-0112, USA. jsmith1enator@gmail.com
Chang
Edward F
EF
Rosenthal
Guy
G
Meeker
Michele
M
von Koch
Cornelia
C
Manley
Geoffrey T
GT
Holland
Martin C
MC
D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D020198:Intracranial Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed