External validation of the clinical indications of computed tomography (CT) of the head in patients with low-energy geriatric hip fractures

With the observed 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value, physical evidence of acute head injury, acute retrograde amnesia, and GCS < 15 can be recommended as a clinical decision guide for the selective use of head CT scans in geriatric patients with low energy hip fractures. All the patients with positive acute head CT findings can be predicted in the presence of at least one positive criterion. In addition, if these criteria are used as a pre-requisite to order the head CT, around 50% of the unnecessary head CT scans can be avoided.