CT head scan findings in infants investigated for abuse: version 3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Occult findings in CT head scans of UK infants investigated for suspected physical abuse
IRAS ID
274419
Contact name
Helen Daley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Solent NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
none applicable, none applicable
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 18 days
Research summary
Local NHS Trust-approved audit and service improvement projects have been carried out in five NHS Trusts in a standardised way, looking at whether children who had skeletal surveys (X-rays) for suspected physical abuse also had CT head scans requested appropriately and according to national guidance. The data showed that the yield from CT scans was lower than expected. We propose to combine data from the 5 audits into one database so that the findings can be used to inform future UK guidance. The data to be collected for research purposes is the same as the data that was collected for audit and includes: the year radiological imaging carried out, whether the patient was aged above or below 6 months of age, their gender, the results of radiological imaging, their presenting features and a judgement about whether the neuroimaging showed occult findings. The data table is given in the research protocol attached with this application. The anonymised data will be reviewed by the chief investigator and a researcher independent of any of the bases. Any ambiguities in the data will be resolved between these two and the researcher in the hospital base who supplied the data. No other data will be requested other than that collected for audit purposes. The anonymised dataset will be used to obtain yield (frequencies) of intracranial findings found on CT head scans in (1) patients presenting without obvious signs of head injury (2) patients presenting clinically with head injury. This information could help inform future UK guidance as to which children should have CT head scans for suspected physical abuse.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0355
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion