Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine

Authors: Lavery, Matthew D. BSc¹; Williamson, Rylen A. BSc¹; Curran, Jason BSc, BJourn, MPH^2,3; Wilkey, July RN⁴; McCarroll, Kirk MD, CCFP-FPA, FCFP⁴.

Publication date: October-December 2024

This study examined how often patients with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) in a rural emergency department (ED) receive CT scans when recommended by the Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR). The study aimed to compare the actual imaging rates at a rural hospital without an in-house CT scanner to those at larger centers with CT facilities. Researchers also wanted to assess whether rural patients are less likely to receive CT scans for minor head injuries when indicated by the CCHR.