Table 4.

Diagnostic Evaluation of Suspected TBI in Emergency Departments

	% All suspected TBI patients (95% CI) n = 4.8 million	% Patients diagnosed with TBI (95% CI) n = 2.5 million	% evaluated for TBI but not diagnosed with TBI (95% CI) n = 2.3 million	p Value*
X-ray obtained	44 (41 – 47)	33 (29 – 37)	56 (52 – 60)	<0.001
Non-head CT scan obtained	27 (24 – 30)	20 (17 – 23)	35 (31 – 39)	<0.001
MRI obtained	1 (1 – 2)	1 (0 – 2)	1 (1 – 2)	0.350
Seen by a resident	13 (10 – 17)	12 (9 – 17)	14 (11 – 19)	0.280
Seen by a midlevel provider	18 (15 – 21)	20 (16 – 24)	16 (13 – 20)	0.139
Disposition
• Admission to observation unit	1 (1 – 2)	1 (1 – 2)	1 (1 – 3)	0.691
• Admission to hospital	17 (15 – 19)	13 (10 – 16)	20 (18 – 24)	<0.001
Referral to a physician or clinic for follow-up	66 (62 – 69)	68 (63 – 72)	64 (60 – 68)	<0.134
Traumatic abnormality on head CT	9 (8 – 11)	22 (19 – 26)	NA	NA
Associated non-TBI injuries
• Other head/face/neck	31 (28 – 33)	23 (20 – 27)	39 (35 – 43)	<0.001
• Spine and back	10 (8 – 11)	9 (7 – 11)	11 (9 – 14)	0.074
• Torso	7 (6 – 8)	4 (3 – 6)	9 (8 – 12)	<0.001
• Extremities	14 (12 – 16)	9 (7 – 10)	20 (17 – 22)	<0.001

p Value* is for the difference between patients diagnosed with TBI and suspected TBI patients who were not diagnosed with TBI. NA = Not applicable