[Mild traumatic brain injury in children: can we reduce the number of CT-scans?].

OBJECTIVE

Evaluating the safety of a more expectative approach than described in the guideline 'Mild traumatic head/brain injury' (mTBI) within children.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHOD: Children (0-18 years) with mTBI, who visited the emergency department of Isala between December 2018 and July 2022, were included. Outcomes were the percentages of hospital admissions; CT-scans; intracranial hemorrhage, neurosurgical interventions and adherence to the national guideline.

RESULTS

704 patients with mTBI were included. Hospital admissions and CT-scans were performed in 67.5% and 6.7%, respectively. Intracranial hemorrhage was found in 13 patients (1.8%) and 2 patients (0.3%) underwent a neurosurgical intervention. Guideline adherence was 34.5%. Non-adherence to the guideline existed of choosing for a hospital admission even though a CT-scan was indicated.

CONCLUSION

The adherence to the guideline mTBI was poor. An expectative approach without initial imaging was sufficiently safe.