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New Orleans criteria for minor head injury

New Orleans criteria for minor head injury
Headache
Vomiting
Age >60 years
Drug or alcohol intoxication
Persistent anterograde amnesia (short-term memory deficit)
Visible trauma above the clavicles
Seizure
ResultCT not required

No criteria present: CT can be safely deferred by these criteria.

Criteria met
0 of 7

When to use

  • Deciding on head CT in adults with minor head trauma and a GCS of 15 with a witnessed loss of consciousness.

Formula

CT indicated if ANY of: headache, vomiting, age >60, drug/alcohol intoxication, persistent anterograde amnesia, visible trauma above the clavicles, or seizure. Applies only when GCS is 15.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Highly sensitive but less specific than the Canadian CT Head Rule; validated only in patients with GCS 15 and loss of consciousness.

References

  1. Haydel MJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(2):100-5.