Concussions are a common complication of head trauma and a frequent reason for emergency department visits. In the pediatric population alone, there are nearly 50,000 diagnosed concussions in children ages 5-19 each year, commonly occurring from sports-related injuries. But a CT scan is often unnecessary for concussions and might even cause more harm than good.

In this Canadian Family Physician article, authors provide practical guidance on avoiding CT scans for minor head injuries in pediatric populations.