Frequency Distribution of Indications for CT Scan in Children Under 2 Years of Age with Mild Head Trauma

The purpose of evaluating children with mild head trauma is to identify patients with traumatic brain injury and to prevent brain from deterioration and secondary damage while limiting unnecessary imaging procedures. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency distribution of indications for computed tomography (CT) scan in children under 2 years of age with mild head trauma. In this cross-sectional study, medical files of 100 children under 2 years of age with mild trauma were investigated. Data such as age, sex, mechanism of head injury, level of consciousness before CT scan, repeated vomiting, decreased level of consciousness, craniofacial soft-tissue injuries, distant systemic damages, and the possible existence of brain lesions based on patient's CT findings was collected and evaluated. The mean age of patients, 63 of whom were male, was 18 ± 7.1 years. The most common cause of head injuries was falling from a height (66%). Based on CT scan findings, 55% of patients had abnormal CT findings. Age, sex, and mechanism of trauma were not significantly different between groups. Although repeated vomiting and decreased level of consciousness were more prevalent in patients with abnormal CT findings compared to those with normal results, the difference between the two groups was not significant. The results of the present study revealed that vomiting and decreased level of consciousness in children under 2 years of age with mild head injuries cannot be considered as the sole criteria to suspect brain injury and necessitate CT scanning.