Table 1.

Guidelines for emergent head CT scans for trauma patients. The guideline is modified from “CT rules for mild brain injuries” advocated by the Taiwan Neurosurgical Society http://www.neurosurgery.org.tw/nsr/tbi/main.htm.

Urgent scan is indicated

Moderate and severe head trauma

GCS < 15 two hours after injury

Suspected skull or skull base fracture

Severe craniofacial trauma

Focal neurological deficit

Seizure attack after injury

Optional use of head CT scans

≧2 episode of vomiting

Aged ≧65 years or ≦ 2 years

Drug or ethanol intoxication

Persistent diffuse headache

More than 30 minutes of amnesia or loss of consciousness

since injury

Dangerous mechanism of injury

Road traffic accident—as pedestrian

Road traffic accident—ejected from car

Fall > 1 m or > 5 stairs

Coagulopathy or on anticoagulants