Research Abstract
Title: Utility of CT Brain Post Fall in Interim Care Patients
Aim:
To determine the incidence of acute intracranial haemorrhage on CT head imaging post fall in interim care patients and associated rates of neurosurgical intervention.
Methods:
A clinical audit of inpatient falls and utility of computer tomography (CT) brains at Brighton Interim Care was conducted. This is a unique population of older admitted patients, in an offsite campus, awaiting aged care facility placement. An audit of RiskMan data was obtained for all falls occurring in interim care during the year 2020. Additional patient and fall characteristics, along with, any neurosurgical intervention was collated.
Results:
Incidence of falls were 21% (112 falls per 525 patient admission). 19 of the 112 episodes of falls (17%) underwent head imaging post fall. Of the 19 head scans that were done, only 2 patients (10.5%) demonstrated acute intracranial changes. The incidence of acute intracranial changes found post falls in this study population was 1.8% (2 per 112 falls). Of the 2 patients with acute intracranial changes, none had focal neurological changes, change in Glasgow coma scale (GCS), were on anticoagulation, or had any signs of external head injury. None of the patients with intracranial haemorrhage required any neurosurgical intervention.
Conclusion:
There was an overall low incidence of acute intracranial changes post fall on head imaging from the interim care population. Brain imaging post fall did not result in any significant change in management, specifically neurosurgical intervention.