A 30-year-old man has a head injury with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 on arrival in the emergency department. According to NICE NG232, what is the imaging recommendation?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. CT head within 1 hour
- Step 1: An initial GCS below 13 is a high-risk criterion.
- Step 2: NICE NG232 advises CT within 1 hour for GCS below 13 on initial assessment.
Answer
CT head within 1 hour.
Why not the others: MRI head within 48 hours once the patient has been admitted to a ward: MRI is not the first-line acute test. CT head within 8 hours as a routine request from the ward the next morning: 8 hours applies to lower-risk groups. Skull X-ray with discharge home once the film has been reported as normal: Skull X-rays are no longer recommended in head injury.
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