Is a skull X-ray necessary after milder head trauma?

Abstract

During the 2-year period 1985–86 a total of 1,876 patients were admitted to our hospital after milder head trauma including cerebral concussion. Two hundred and eighty four patients who had a skull X-ray were not selected from guidelines. In 1,592 patients without a skull X-ray, signs of an intracranial complication developed in six cases and were verified by CT. In the 284 patients with skull X-ray a fracture was demonstrated in 25, and of these 25 patients only one patient disclosed a cerebral contusion. In the 259 patients with skull X-ray, but without demonstration of fracture, there were subsequently seen one subdural haematoma and one cerebral contusion. The incidence of intracranial complications in patients without and with skull X-ray with or without fracture does not differ significantly. In these circumstances we do not find any justification for routine skull X-ray after milder head trauma.

Key Words:

• Cerebral concussion
• computer tomography
• intracranial haematoma
• skull fracture
• X-ray