Does the evidence justify routine transfer of residents of aged care facilities for CT scan after minor head trauma?

Abstract

Background: In 2014, the South Australian coroner recommended that residents of residential aged care facilities (RACF) who had sustained a head injury should be transported to emergency departments (ED) for assessment and a head CT scan, with the view to preventing mortality. The evidence base for the recommendation is unclear. Aims: To determine the rate of emergent intervention (neurosurgery, transfusion of blood products or reversal of anti-coagulation) in residents transferred to ED with minor head trauma who had their usual cognitive function on ED assessment. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study by medical records review at two university-affiliated community ED. Participant..