The Canadian CT Head Rule reduced the need for CT scans more than the New Orleans Criteria in minor head injuryExternal validation of the Canadian CT Head Rule and the New Orleans Criteria for CT scanning in patients with minor head injury.

Edmonds, Marcia MD (commentator)
Smits, M
Dippel, DW
de Haan, GG
et al,

University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

Smits M, Dippel DW, de Haan GG, et al. External validation of the Canadian CT Head Rule and the New Orleans Criteria for CT scanning in patients with minor head injury. JAMA 2005; 294:1519–25.SmitsMDippelDWde HaanGGet alExternal validation of the Canadian CT Head Rule and the New Orleans Criteria for CT scanning in patients with minor head injury.JAMA20052941519-25Q In patients with minor head injury, how do the Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR) and the New Orleans Criteria (NOC) compare for selecting which patients should receive computed tomography (CT) scanning?

For correspondence: Dr M G M Hunink, Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. [email protected]

Source of funding: College voor Zorgverzekeringen.

Evidence Based Medicine 11(2):p 61, April 2006.

Clinical impact ratings Emergency medicine ★★★★★★☆ Surgery—neurosurgery ★★★★★★☆