The use of head computed tomography in elderly patients sustaining minor head trauma

The study objectives were to ascertain historical and clinical criteria differentiating intracranial injury (ICI) in elderly patients with minor head trauma (MHT), and determine applicability of current head computed tomography (CT) scan indications in this population. A 12-month retrospective chart review was performed at a community teaching hospital with 34,000 annual Emergency Department (ED) visits. Included were patients > or = 65 years old sustaining MHT with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-15 who had a CT scan performed during their hospital stay. Data included: injury mechanism, symptoms, signs, GCS, anticoagulation use or studies, presence of alcohol or drug, CT scan result, diagnosis, and outcome and intervention(s). There were 133 patients, with 19 (14.3%) suffering ICI. Four ICI patients required neurosurgical intervention. The mean age was 80.4 years and 66% were female. Four of 19 ICI patients (21%) had a GCS of 15, no neurologic symptoms, alcohol use or anticoagulation. Only 1 of 13 signs and symptoms correlated with ICI. In this study, no useful clinical predictors of intracranial injury in elderly patients with MHT were found. Current protocols based on clinical findings may miss 30% of elderly ICI patients. Head CT scan is recommended on all elderly patients with MHT.