CT Head Indications

Question 1

What are the indications for CT within an hour (only need one of the folllowing)?

Answer 1

• Suspected NAI
• Post-traumatic seizure
• GCS <14 (babies less than 1 GCS<15) on initial assessment
• GCS <15 2 hours after the injury
• Tense fontanelle
• Suspected skull fracture
• Basal skull fracture (battle’s sign, panda eyes, haemotympanum, CSF leakage)
• Focal neurology
• Babies <1 bruise, swelling or lacteration >5cm on the head

Question 2

What are the indications for CT within an hour (need >1 of the folllowing)?

Answer 2

• LOC >5 minutes
• Abnormal drowsiness
• > 2 vomits
• Dangerous mechanism of injury
• Amnesia >5 minutes
• Bleeding/ clotting disorders

If they only have one of the above, observe for 4 hours

Question 3

Which risk factors would indicate CT within an hour, if they arise during the observation period?

Answer 3

• GCS <15
• Vomiting
• Abnormal drowsiness