Frequency of neuroimaging for pediatric minor brain injury is determined by the primary treating medical department

: To investigate the use of neuroimaging in children and adolescents with minor brain injury in pediatric and non-pediatric departments.In this observational cohort study data were extracted from a large German statutory health insurance (AOK Plus Dresden ∼3.1 million clients) in a 7-year period (2010-2016). All patients with International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code S06.0 (concussion; minor brain injury; commotio cerebri) aged ≤ 18 years were included. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis for associations with the use of CT and MRI (independent variables: gender, age, length of stay, pediatric vs non-pediatric department, university vs non-university hospital).A total of 14,805 children with minor brain injuries (mean age 6.0 ± 5.6; 45.5% females) were included. Treatment was provided by different medical departments: Pediatrics (N = 8717; 59%), Pediatric Surgery (N = 3582, 24%), General Surgery (N = 2197, 15%), Orthopedic Trauma Surgery (N = 309, 2.1%). Patients admitted to pediatric departments (Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery) underwent head CT-imaging significantly less frequently (3.8%) compared to patients treated in non-pediatric departments (18.5%; P < .001; General Surgery: 15.6%; Orthopedic Trauma Surgery: 39.2%). Logistic regression confirmed a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for the use of cranial CT by the non-pediatric departments (OR: 3.2 [95-%-CI: 2.72-3.76]).CT was significantly less frequently used in pediatric departments. Educational efforts and quality improvement initiatives on physicians, especially in non-pediatric departments may be an effective approach to decreasing rates of CT after minor traumatic brain injuries.