Repeated CT scans in trauma transfers: An analysis of indications, radiation dose exposure, and costs

To identify the number of CT scans repeated in acute trauma patients receiving imaging before being referred to a trauma center, to define indications, and to assess radiation doses and costs of repeated CT.

This retrospective study included all adult trauma patients transferred from other hospitals to a Level-I trauma center during 2014. Indications for repeated CT scans were categorized into: inadequate CT image data transfer, poor image quality, repetition of head CT after head injury together with completion to whole-body CT (WBCT), and follow-up of injury known from previous CT. Radiation doses from repeated CT were determined; costs were calculated using a nation-wide fee schedule.

Within one year, 85/298 (28.5%) trauma patients were transferred from another hospital because of severe head injury (n=45,53%) and major body trauma (n=23;27%) not manageable in the referring hospital, repatriation from a foreign country (n=14;16.5%), and no ICU-capacity (n=3;3.5%). Of these 85 patients, 74 (87%) had repeated CT in our center because of inadequate CT data transfer (n=29;39%), repetition of head CT with completion to WBCT (n=24;32.5%), and follow-up of known injury (n=21;28.5%). None occurred because of poor image quality. Cumulative dose length product (DLP) and annual costs of potential preventable, repeated CT (inadequate data transfer) was 631mSv (81'304mGy*cm) and 35'233€, respectively.

A considerable number of transferred trauma patients undergo potentially preventable, repeated CT, adding radiation dose to patients and costs to the health care system.