The Clinical Impact of a Web-Based Image Repository on Radiation Exposure in Injured Children

The long-term cancer risks for children exposed to radiologic images can be two to three times higher than for adults because children are more sensitive to radiation and have a longer lifetime in which to accumulate exposure from CT scans. Injured children often undergo repeat CT imaging if they are transferred from non-pediatric hospitals to a Level I pediatric trauma center (PTC). This study determined the impact of a statewide web-based image repository (WBIR) on repeat imaging among transferred injured children.

All injured children who underwent CT imaging and were transferred to the PTC in 2010 (pre-WBIR) and 2013 (post-WBIR) were included. Patient-level factors studied included demographics, body region of scan, Injury Severity Score, and Emergency Department (ED) disposition. Change from pre to post on rate of repeat imaging was assessed.

Two hundred fifty-four and 233 children, with a median age of 7.3 years, were transferred to the Children's Hospital in 2010 and 2013, respectively. Repeat imaging levels at the PTC were lower post-WBIR than pre-WBIR (20% versus 33%, odds ratio [OR] 0.54, P = .005). Images of the head decreased most significantly (60% versus 33%, OR 0.33). Images performed at Level II and III trauma centers were repeated less often after WBIR.

The WBIR significantly reduced repeat imaging among injured children transferred to a PTC, especially children transferred from Level II and Level III trauma centers, children with lower-acuity injuries, and children with initial scans of the head. Radiation savings are expected to be beneficial to children.