New to Practice Bundle-The Clinical Efficacy and Direct Healthcare Cost of Repeat Head CT in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

The Clinical Efficacy and Direct Healthcare Cost of Repeat Head CT in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Alex Michael, a sixth-year neurosurgery resident, discusses their work on assessing the efficacy and cost of managing mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs account for a significant number of ER visits and hospitalizations in the US annually. The widespread use of head CT imaging has improved the detection of intracranial hemorrhages, but many of these findings have no clinical significance. While current practice involves transferring patients with radiographic evidence of hemorrhage to neurosurgical centers, there is growing evidence that certain clinical features can predict future deterioration and the need for intervention. In this study, they retrospectively reviewed patients with mild TBI who presented to a trauma center to assess the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of repeating CT head images and hospital transfers in low-risk patients. The study found that routine repeat head CT scans did not change the management of low-risk patients and instead imposed a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. The proposed alternative of serial neurological examination appeared to be safe for managing select mild TBI patients. The study highlights the role of telemedicine in avoiding unnecessary costly transfers and the need for further analysis to validate these findings.

Asset Subtitle

Alex Patrick Michael, MD

Keywords

neurosurgery resident

mild traumatic brain injuries

efficacy and cost

head CT imaging

intracranial hemorrhages