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Hello, I Was Struck By A Hotel Trolley On The
Question: Hello,
I was struck by a hotel trolley on the job on the upper part of my right temple. I did not lose consciousness, was not dizzy or nauseous, and my pupils/vision has not changed. I happen to be going through an unrelated sinus infection/cold so having a mild pressure headache seemed to have more to do with that. No injury related head pain to speak of. 24 hours have passed and no symptoms other than soreness if I lay on my pillow or chew on food in the area of the injury.
Should I still go to the hospital and get a CT scan or MRI? I do not have insurance (waiting to clear that with my employer in 6 weeks or so) so I don't want to amass debt if it isn't completely necessary.
Best regards
I was struck by a hotel trolley on the job on the upper part of my right temple. I did not lose consciousness, was not dizzy or nauseous, and my pupils/vision has not changed. I happen to be going through an unrelated sinus infection/cold so having a mild pressure headache seemed to have more to do with that. No injury related head pain to speak of. 24 hours have passed and no symptoms other than soreness if I lay on my pillow or chew on food in the area of the injury.
Should I still go to the hospital and get a CT scan or MRI? I do not have insurance (waiting to clear that with my employer in 6 weeks or so) so I don't want to amass debt if it isn't completely necessary.
Best regards
Brief Answer:
No need for CT scan
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. There are certain criteria we look for when deciding if a patient with mild traumatic brain injury needs imaging such as a CT or MRI. They are decreased level of consciousness 2 hours after the injury, suspected skull fracture, any signs of bleeding from a skull fracture, such as bruising around your eye or behind your ears, or clear fluid dripping from your nose (from a cerebrospinal fluid leak), two or more episodes of vomiting, 65 years or older, amnesia for events occurring more than 30 minutes prior to the injury, and dangerous mechanism, such as falling from more than 3 feet.
Unless you are more than 65 years old, it doesn't sound like the injury would meet any of these criteria and so would not be severe enough to need a CT or MRI. Even if you were greater than 65 years old, I would still say it sounds like you don't need any imaging from this injury.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
No need for CT scan
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. There are certain criteria we look for when deciding if a patient with mild traumatic brain injury needs imaging such as a CT or MRI. They are decreased level of consciousness 2 hours after the injury, suspected skull fracture, any signs of bleeding from a skull fracture, such as bruising around your eye or behind your ears, or clear fluid dripping from your nose (from a cerebrospinal fluid leak), two or more episodes of vomiting, 65 years or older, amnesia for events occurring more than 30 minutes prior to the injury, and dangerous mechanism, such as falling from more than 3 feet.
Unless you are more than 65 years old, it doesn't sound like the injury would meet any of these criteria and so would not be severe enough to need a CT or MRI. Even if you were greater than 65 years old, I would still say it sounds like you don't need any imaging from this injury.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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