The prevalence of abnormal brain CT scans in pediatrics emergency department: two years single-center retrospective chart review study
Authors:
Raiyan Yousef AlMaini
, Hamoud Omar Alqarni
, Abdullah Yousef Aldaffa
, Nawaf Saleh Alammari
, Amal Abubakr Yousif
, Omar Abdullah Alawni
, Meshari Marshad Dalbouh
, Brittany Lucas
, Ahmed Saeed AlZahrani
Abstract
Background: Traumatic head injury represents a substantial cause of trauma in pediatric emergency rooms (ER). This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of abnormal computed tomography (CT) scan reports (CT) in the pediatric ER at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (KASCH) in Riyadh. In addition, it examined different variables that are more likely associated with a normal CT scan. Methods: This single-center retrospective chart review study was conducted using nonprobability convenience sampling; data were collected from the electronic health records of ER pediatric patients. Patients aged 0 to 14 years, who had a trauma and a brain CT scan ordered in KASCH ER, from May 2017 to May 2019 were included. Results: In total, 502 CT scans were done due to a traumatic head-related event. About a third (34.5%, n = 173) had an abnormal CT scan, with the majority of the group (69.4%, n = 120) being male. The highest rate of abnormal CT scans (28.9%) was in the 2-5 years age group. The most common mechanism of injury was falling (55%), followed by motor vehicle accidents (33.5%). Falling, as a mechanism of injury, accounted for more than half of the injuries in both the normal (57.1%) and abnormal (50.9%) CT scans. Conclusion: Two-thirds of the head CT included in this study resulted in normal CT findings and a considerable number of the abnormal findings were linear non-displaced fractures that can be detected by X-ray.Keywords: Pediatric, trauma, head, CT, computed tomography
Pubmed Style
Raiyan Yousef AlMaini, Hamoud Omar Alqarni, Abdullah Yousef Aldaffa, Nawaf Saleh Alammari, Amal Abubakr Yousif, Omar Abdullah Alawni, Meshari Marshad Dalbouh, Brittany Lucas, Ahmed Saeed AlZahrani. The prevalence of abnormal brain CT scans in pediatrics emergency department: two years single-center retrospective chart review study. SJE Med. 2022; 18 (October 2022): 187-194. doi:10.24911/SJEMed/72-1649613815
Publication History
Received: April 10, 2022
Accepted: August 28, 2022
Published: October 18, 2022
Authors
Raiyan Yousef AlMaini
Department of Emergency Medicine, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hamoud Omar Alqarni
Department of General Pediatrics, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Yousef Aldaffa
Department of General Pediatrics, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Nawaf Saleh Alammari
Department of Emergency Medicine, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Amal Abubakr Yousif
Department of Pediatrics Emergency Medicine, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Omar Abdullah Alawni
Department of Pediatrics Emergency Medicine, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Meshari Marshad Dalbouh
Department of Pediatrics Emergency Medicine, King Faisal Medical City for Southern Regions, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Brittany Lucas
Integrated Healthcare, Health Sector Transformation Program, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Saeed AlZahrani
Department of Pediatrics Radiology, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.