What is the Canadian CT head rule for head injuries?
The Canadian CT head rule (CCTHR) is a validated clinical decision rule to determine the need for CT head in adult emergency department patients with minor head injuries. Inclusion criteria. Patient has suffered minor head trauma with resultant: loss of consciousness. GCS 13-15. confusion. amnesia after the event.
When should a CT head be obtained?
If any of the above risk factors are identified then a CT head should be obtained. Several studies have found the CCTHR to be highly sensitive in identifying injuries requiring neurosurgical intervention (80-100%) 1-5, with varying degrees of specificity (49.6-80.7%) 1-5. 1.
Is CT safe for minor head injury?
They intimate that widespread use of CT in minor head injury is limited to the USA, but reports from Scandinavia and Italy show a more global trend, emphasising the increasing need for guidelines to identify patients that can safely forgo CT. We have published such a set of guidelines.