Role of scheduled repeat CT scan in traumatic brain injuries: A prospective observational study

Scheduled CT scan is a routine practice at many centers after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but it has been questioned by few authors. The majority of the studies are reported in mild TBI; however, no specific data exist for the same in moderate and severe TBI.

This was a single-center and 1-year prospective study. All cases with TBI who underwent scheduled repeat scans were included in the study. Patients who underwent emergency surgery after first computed tomography (CT) and those who expired before repeat CT were excluded from the study. Data included demographics, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, initial head CT findings, findings of repeat CT, and the need for any intervention (medical/surgical).

A total of 231 cases were analyzed. The mean time interval for the repeat CT was 7.8 h. One hundred and seventy-one patients underwent scheduled repeat CT (Group 1), 53 patients with GCS >13 were discharged from emergency before the repeat scan (Group 2), and seven cases underwent repeat CT before the scheduled time in view of clinical deterioration (Group 3). The mean age and gender did not vary significantly between the three groups. Mixed lesions predominated in all; however, the proportion significantly differed between groups. In Group 1, two patients required surgery; in Group 3, all patients required a significant change in treatment, whereas none deteriorated or required a repeat scan in Group 2.

In our study, the yield of routine repeat CT scans requiring surgery was 3.5%. Based on the results of our study and the observations from previous studies, we have proposed a few general working statements regarding indications for repeat CT scans in TBI.