From Radiology Business (Link: https://radiologybusiness.com/topics/healthcare-management/healthcare-quality/emergency-medicine-physicians-develop-novel-approach-reduces-unnecessary-imaging-half)
Emergency medicine physicians and other specialists have developed a novel approach that reduces the need for certain unnecessary imaging by half.
Cervical spine injuries in children are rare but can lead to serious injuries and potential paralysis. Typically, providers assess such injuries via X-ray or CT, but this can expose patients to harmful radiation, researchers detailed in Lancet Child & Adolescent Health [1].
To fine-tune triage, scientists have created a clinical prediction rule, incorporating it into an algorithm to help guide ED providers considering imaging. Testing the tool in a prospective, observational study, the approach proved powerful.
Had the algorithm been applied to all participants to guide imaging use, the number of kids undergoing CT would have dropped from 17% (3,856) to less than 7% (1,549).
“Quickly and accurately identifying children with potentially severe injuries is crucial for emergency medical providers,” Julie Leonard, MD, who led the study team and is a pediatric EM physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said in a statement. “Our extensive, multicenter study demonstrates that using this rule, which relies solely on self-reported symptoms and physical examination, can prevent unnecessary radiation in children.”
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