Utility of Head Computed Tomography Scans Before Outpatient Follow-up for Low-Risk Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Neurosurgeons are frequently consulted for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) resulting in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). After inpatient confirmation of hemorrhage stability, outpatient head computed tomography (CT) is often performed to assess for hemorrhage resolution. Our objective was to assess the practice patterns and clinical utility of routine outpatient head CT scans for patients with mild TBI (mTBI).

A retrospective review was performed on all adult mTBI patients with ICH who presented to a level I trauma center over a 4-year period. A combination of the patient's initial clinical evaluation and CT findings was used to identify mTBI patients at low risk for neurologic deterioration and neurosurgical intervention. Findings from the outpatient follow-up clinical evaluation and head CT were assessed. Patients without outpatient follow-up within 3 months were excluded.

Forty-nine patients met inclusion criteria for the study. Thirty-two had an outpatient head CT before their follow-up appointment. Twenty-one patients had at least 1 neurologic finding at the earliest follow-up appointment. All patients except those with a subdural hematoma (SDH) had smaller or resolving ICH on outpatient CT scans. Seven patients with an SDH had unchanged or expanded hemorrhage on outpatient imaging, 2 of whom had traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations and 1 of whom underwent neurosurgical intervention due to an enlarging SDH.

Routine outpatient head CT scans before follow-up for low-risk mTBI patients without an SDH appears to have limited clinical utility. In low-risk mTBI patients with an SDH, obtaining an outpatient head CT is reasonable to monitor for resolution.