Emergency skull radiography: the effect of restrictive criteria on skull radiography and CT use.

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Abstract
A prospective study was performed to determine the effect of restrictive criteria on the use of emergency skull radiography and computed tomography (CT) of the [human] head. Emergency skull radiography required the completion of a special requistion form. Emergency CT of the head was done at the request of senior consultants and was available on a full-time basis. Over 1 yr, 2758 skull studies were performed, a decrease of 39.1% when compared with the year before restrictive criteria were instituted, during which 4587 skull examinations were done. In the same period, the number of emergency CT scans of the head increased by 45.7%, from 471 in the control year to 686 in the experimental year. The use of the restrictive criteria apparently is a cost-effective means of limiting skull ratiography when CT of the head is readily available. [The use of this method to assess traumatic changes in the brain and meninges is discussed.].

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