the benefits of ct scans need to be weighed with potential risks and harms.
when is a ct scan necessary?
ct scans or other imaging tests are only needed when there are worrisome symptoms, such as repeated vomiting, prolonged loss of consciousness or decreased level of consciousness, seizures, worsening headache, or other concerning physical symptoms.
proper and timely assessment is important. the canadian academy of sport and exercise medicine with
choosing wisely canada recently released
a new recommendation for health-care providers on avoiding ct scans for concussion. this includes the suggestion to use a clinical decision rule, which is a set of questions and prompts that health-care providers can use to assess the severity of the injury and avoid imaging tests if they would not be helpful.
the good news is that the science on concussions has advanced. but this means the research and practice in treating concussions has changed as we learn more about what helps to heal these injuries in kids.
it’s a misconception that kids should stay in a dark room
other misconceptions about how to manage a concussion include the beliefs that children are required to stay in a dark room, avoid screens or reading, and have minimal physical activity for many weeks. in fact, recent evidence suggests the importance of movement following a head injury to enhance recovery and improve outcomes.
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