Should patients with normal cranial CT scans following minor head injury be hospitalized for observation?

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of complications in hospitalized patients with normal cranial computed tomographic (CT) scans following minor head injury (Glasgow Coma scale of 13-15). Seventy-three patients were included in the analysis, with 63 children being assigned a GCS score of 15 at presentation. Seventy-one percent of patients were male, and motor vehicle accidents accounted for 56% of the injuries. Forty patients reported loss of consciousness (LOC) following the accident. The mean length of hospital stay was 1.69 +/- 0.94 days. GCS scores, history of LOC, vomiting, or seizures did not significantly influence length of hospitalization. None of the patients developed complications, and all were discharged in good condition. We conclude that a child with minor head injury, GCS score of 15, and a normal neurologic examination and cranial CT scan can be safely discharged to the care of a responsible adult and can be observed at home.