Kathleen M Adelgais1, Lorin Browne2, Maija Holsti3, Ryan R Metzger4, Shannon Cox Murphy5, Nanette Dudley3. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO. Electronic address: kathleen.adelgais@childrenscolorado.org. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Section, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. 4. Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. 5. Primary Care Partners, Grand Junction, CO.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Guidelines for evaluating the cervical spine in pediatric trauma patients recommend cervical spine CT (CSCT) when plain radiographs suggest an injury. Our objective was to compare usage of CSCT between a pediatric trauma center (PTC) and referral general emergency departments (GEDs). METHODS: Patient data from a pediatric trauma registry from 2002 to 2011 were analyzed. Rates of CSI and CSCT of patients presenting to the PTC and GED were compared. Factors associated with use of CSCT were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: 5148 patients were evaluated, 2142 (41.6%) at the PTC and 3006 (58.4%) at the GED. Groups were similar with regard to age, gender, GCS, and triage category. GED patients had a higher median ISS (14 vs. 9, p<0.05) and more frequent ICU admissions (44.3% vs. 26.1% p<0.05). CSI rate was 2.1% (107/5148) and remained stable. CSCT use increased from 3.5% to 16.1% over time at the PTC (mean 9.6% 95% CI=8.3, 10.9) and increased from 6.8% to 42.0% (mean 26.9%, CI=25.4, 28.4) at the GED. Initial care at a GED remained strongly associated with CSCT. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a stable rate of CSI, rate of CSCT increased significantly over time, especially among patients initially evaluated at a GED.
BACKGROUND: Guidelines for evaluating the cervical spine in pediatric traumapatients recommend cervical spine CT (CSCT) when plain radiographs suggest an injury. Our objective was to compare usage of CSCT between a pediatric trauma center (PTC) and referral general emergency departments (GEDs). METHODS:Patient data from a pediatric trauma registry from 2002 to 2011 were analyzed. Rates of CSI and CSCT of patients presenting to the PTC and GED were compared. Factors associated with use of CSCT were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: 5148 patients were evaluated, 2142 (41.6%) at the PTC and 3006 (58.4%) at the GED. Groups were similar with regard to age, gender, GCS, and triage category. GED patients had a higher median ISS (14 vs. 9, p<0.05) and more frequent ICU admissions (44.3% vs. 26.1% p<0.05). CSI rate was 2.1% (107/5148) and remained stable. CSCT use increased from 3.5% to 16.1% over time at the PTC (mean 9.6% 95% CI=8.3, 10.9) and increased from 6.8% to 42.0% (mean 26.9%, CI=25.4, 28.4) at the GED. Initial care at a GED remained strongly associated with CSCT. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a stable rate of CSI, rate of CSCT increased significantly over time, especially among patients initially evaluated at a GED.
Authors: Annelie Slaar; M M Fockens; Junfeng Wang; Mario Maas; David J Wilson; J Carel Goslings; Niels Wl Schep; Rick R van Rijn Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-12-07