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.