Choosing Wisely Canada: Pediatric Neurosurgery Recommendations

Choosing Wisely Canada is an evidence-based, patient-focused, physician-led campaign to improve the delivery of medical care in Canada. The goal of this study was to produce Canadian recommendations for physicians treating patients with selected paediatric neurosurgery issues.

Paediatric neurosurgeons practicing in Canada were invited to participate. Suggestions were obtained using an anonymous questionnaire, and then ranked anonymously by the participating surgeons. Suggestions that received consensus from participants were discussed at the 2016 annual Canadian Pediatric Neurosurgery Study Group meeting. Suggestions that were not evidence based, or that would not have a substantive population impact were eliminated. All remaining suggestions were anonymously ranked by the group and the top five recommendations were submitted to Choosing Wisely Canada.

The final five recommendations include: 1) don't order a computed tomography scan to investigate macrocephaly (order an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging scan); 2) don't image a midline dimple related to the coccyx in an asymptomatic infant or child; 3) don't use computed tomography scans for routine imaging of children with hydrocephalus. Fast sequence nonsedated magnetic resonance imaging scans or ultrasounds provide adequate information to assess patients without exposing them to radiation or an anesthetic; 4) don't recommend helmets for mild to severe positional flattening; 5) don't do routine surveillance imaging for incidentally discovered Chiari I malformation.

Five Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations were produced to support care of patients with paediatric neurosurgical issues. While these recommendations will apply to the majority of children with the involved conditions, occasionally, deviation from these recommendations may be clinically indicated.