de Campo J, Petty P G
Med J Aust. 1980 Nov 15;2(10):553-5. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1980.tb100765.x.
Abnormalities were detected only in 24 (2.3%) of 1053 skull X-ray examinations performed in cases of suspected head trauma, at a cost of $1461 per positive finding. Only in six cases (0.6%) was treatment influenced by the radiological findings. Skull X-ray examination is indicated if a depressed fracture, compound fracture, or radio-opaque foreign body is suspected, and these patients are reliably selected by certain clinical criteria. The skull X-ray film is not a reliable guide to the presence or extent of intracranial injury, nor is it a substitute for careful clinical evaluation, observation and re-evaluation. The medicolegal implications of this restrictive policy are discussed.
在1053例疑似头部外伤病例所进行的颅骨X光检查中，仅24例（2.3%）检测出异常，每个阳性结果的成本为1461美元。只有6例（0.6%）的治疗受到放射学检查结果的影响。如果怀疑有凹陷性骨折、复合性骨折或不透射线的异物，则需进行颅骨X光检查，并且通过某些临床标准可以可靠地筛选出这些患者。颅骨X光片对于颅内损伤的存在或程度并不是一个可靠的指标，也不能替代仔细的临床评估、观察和重新评估。本文讨论了这一限制性政策的法医学意义。
