Saundra Smyrski
ACRN Definition of mTBI

According to the American College of Emergency Physicians and the CDC, the following are recommendations for determining which patient with a known or suspected mild TBI would require a head CT and which may be safely discharged:
---> There is no evidence to recommend the use of a head MRI over a CT in acute evaluation
---> A noncontrast head CT is indicated in head trauma
patients with loss of consciousness or posttraumatic
amnesia in presence of specific symptoms.
---> A noncontrast head CT should be considered for head
trauma patients with no loss of consciousness or posttraumatic amnesia in presence of specific symptoms.
---> Even without a loss of consciousness or amnesia, a
patient could still have an intracranial injury. Identifying
those patients at risk is key.
---> A patient with an isolated mild TBI and a negative CT is
at minimal risk for developing an intracranial lesion and
may be safely discharged.