Repeat computed tomography for trauma patients undergoing transfer to a Level I trauma center

Abstract

Our goal was to determine the characteristics of trauma transfer patients with repeat imaging. A retrospective trauma registry review was performed to evaluate trauma patients who were transferred from referring institutions between January 2005 and December 2009. Patients were divided into those who had a duplicate computed tomography (CT) scan versus those who did not. There were 2678 patients included of whom 559 (21%) had at least one repeat CT scan, whereas 2119 (79%) did not have any repeat CT scans. Those with repeat CT scans were older (42.3 ± 27.3 years vs 37.3 ± 25.6 years), had a higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) (13.7 ± 8.7 vs 11.9 ± 8.8), and more likely to have blunt trauma (odds ratio, 4.7; confidence interval, 2.3 to 9.6) (P for all < 0.0007). Those with CT scans done only at the referring facility were younger, had a lower ISS, and shorter lengths of stay (P for all < 0.0003). ISS and age were independent predictors for repeat CT scans. Transfer patients had imaging repeated one-fifth of the time. The younger, less injured patient went without repeat imaging suggesting that they may have been adequately cared for at the outside institution.