Title Assessment of cervical spine CT scans in patients with head trauma: A retrospective analysis
Title (croatian) Procjena CT snimaka vratne kralježnice kod pacijenata s ozljedama glave: retrospektivna analiza
Author Alexander Maximilian Andreas Neubauer
Mentor Georg Gerhard Grabenbauer (mentor)
Committee member Johannes Brachmann (predsjednik povjerenstva)
Committee member Sigrun Renate Merger (član povjerenstva)
Committee member Marino Vilović (član povjerenstva)
Granter University of Split School of Medicine Split
Defense date and country 2024-09-03, Croatia
Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE Clinical Medical Sciences Radiology
Abstract Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes and diagnostic management of cervical spine injuries in patients admitted to the surgical emergency department of Regiomed Hospital, Coburg, following head trauma. Specifically, the study aimed to evaluate the necessity and clinical indications for performing cervical spine CT assessments, with a particular focus on identifying the relationship between clinical symptoms and the presence of cervical spine fractures. The study hypothesized that cervical spine imaging is warranted only in adult patients with isolated head trauma who present with clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of cervical spine injury. Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study analysed 109 patients admitted to the emergency department for traumatic brain injury (TBI) between 2022 and 2024. Data were extracted from the ORBIS and Deep Unity hospital information systems, focusing on variables such as patient demographics, mechanism of injury, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, clinical symptoms, and the presence of cervical spine fractures. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0.2.0 to assess correlations between these variables. Additionally, the study documented radiation doses administered during initial CT scans, including kilovoltage (kV), Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI), and Dose Length Product (DLP). Results: The study cohort exhibited a median age of 79 years, with a slight male predominance (52,3%). A significant finding was the substantial underutilization of GCS in initial assessments, with documentation in merely 27,5% of cases. Statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between the presence of clinical symptoms and the incidence of cervical spine fractures, with 57.1% of symptomatic patients presenting with fractures compared to 0,98% of asymptomatic patients (p < 0,001). However, it is crucial to note that 20% of fractures occurred in asymptomatic patients, highlighting the potential risks of relying solely on clinical symptoms. Additionally, no statistically significant association was observed between the mechanism of injury and the occurrence of fractures (p = 0,875) Conclusion: The study's findings demonstrate a significant correlation between clinical symptoms and cervical spine fractures. However, the occurrence of asymptomatic fractures indicates that symptom-based assessment alone may be insufficient for comprehensive diagnosis. These findings support the judicious application of cervical spine CT imaging in high-risk populations, even in the absence of overt symptoms, to mitigate the risk of overlooking clinically silent injuries. Further-more, the observed underutilization of the GCS underscores the necessity for more consistent adherence to standardized assessment protocols in emergency. This adherence is crucial for enhancing the early detection and management of severe TBIs. In conclusion, this study advocates for a balanced approach that integrates both clinical and imaging data to optimize patient outcomes.
Abstract (croatian) Ciljevi: Primarni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati kliničke ishode i dijagnostičko upravljanje ozljedama vratne kralježnice kod pacijenata primljenih u kiruršku hitnu službu bolnice Regiomed, Coburg, nakon traume glave. Konkretno, istraživanje je imalo za cilj procijeniti potrebu i kliničke indikacije za provođenje CT pregleda vratne kralježnice, s posebnim naglaskom na utvrđivanje odnosa između kliničkih simptoma i prisutnosti prijeloma vratne kralježnice. Hipoteza studije bila je da je snimanje vratne kralježnice opravdano samo kod odraslih pacijenata s izoliranom traumom glave koji imaju kliničke znakove i simptome koji upućuju na ozljedu vratne kralježnice. Materijal i metode: Ova retrospektivna kohortna studija analizirala je 109 pacijenata primljenih u hitnu službu zbog traumatske ozljede mozga (TBI) između 2022. i 2024. godine. Podaci su izvučeni iz bolničkih informatičkih sustava ORBIS i Deep Unity, s fokusom na varijable kao što su demografski podaci pacijenata, mehanizam ozljede, Glasgow koma skala (GCS), klinički simptomi i prisutnost prijeloma vratne kralježnice. Statističke analize provedene su korištenjem IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0.2.0 kako bi se procijenile korelacije između ovih varijabli. Također, studija je dokumentirala doze zračenja primljene tijekom početnih CT pregleda, uključujući kilovolt (kV), indeks doze računalne tomografije (CTDI) i proizvod duljine doze (DLP). Rezultati: Srednja dob ispitanika iznosila je 79 godina, s blagom pretežnošću muškaraca (52,3%). Značajan nalaz bio je značajno nedovoljno korištenje GCS-a u početnim procjenama, s dokumentacijom u samo 27,5% slučajeva. Statistička analiza pokazala je snažnu korelaciju između prisutnosti kliničkih simptoma i učestalosti prijeloma vratne kralježnice, s 57,1% simptomatskih pacijenata s prijelomima u usporedbi s 0,98% asimptomatskih pacijenata (p < 0,001). Međutim, važno je napomenuti da je 20% prijeloma zabilježeno kod asimptomatskih pacijenata, što ukazuje na potencijalne rizike oslanjanja isključivo na kliničke simptome. Također, nije zabilježena statistički značajna povezanost između mehanizma ozljede i pojave prijeloma (p = 0,875). Zaključak: Nalazi studije pokazuju značajnu korelaciju između kliničkih simptoma i prijeloma vratne kralježnice. Međutim, pojava asimptomatskih prijeloma ukazuje na to da procjena temeljena samo na simptomima može biti nedovoljna za sveobuhvatnu dijagnozu. Ovi nalazi podržavaju pažljivu primjenu CT snimanja vratne kralježnice kod visokorizičnih populacija, čak i u nedostatku očitih simptoma, kako bi se smanjio rizik od previđanja klinički tihih ozljeda. Nadalje, opaženo nedovoljno korištenje GCS-a naglašava potrebu za dosljednijim pridržavanjem standardiziranih protokola procjene u hitnoj službi. Ovo pridržavanje je ključno za poboljšanje rane detekcije i upravljanja teškim traumatskim ozljedama mozga. Zaključno, ova studija zagovara uravnotežen pristup koji integrira kliničke i slikovne podatke za optimizaciju ishoda pacijenata.
Keywords
Head Trauma
CT Scan
Head Trauma Scans
Cervical Spine
Traumatic Brain injury
GCS Head Trauma
Keywords (croatian)
trauma glave
CT skeniranje
skeniranje traume glave
vratna kralježnica
traumatska ozljeda mozga
GCS trauma glave
Language english
URN:NBN urn:nbn:hr:171:973914
Study programme Title: Medical Studies in English Study programme type: university Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica medicine (doktor/doktorica medicine)
Type of resource Text
File origin Born digital
Access conditions Open access Embargo expiration date: 2024-09-03
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Created on 2024-08-30 06:45:43