[Guidelines for the initial management of adult patients with minimal to moderate head injury]

Abstract

Mild to moderate head injuries are very common. Often diagnostics and symptomatic treatment is relatively uncomplicated and the clinical challenge is identification of patients who will later develop a potentially life-threatening complication. Based on updated knowledge, the Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee has published new guidelines for the initial management of adult patients with minimal to moderate head injury. These categorize patients into five risk groups that should be handled by three different strategies: admission for observation, computed tomography or assessment of the biomarker S100B.