The Canadian CT Head Rule was created to improve the evaluation of patients with minor head injury by identifying those who are at risk of serious intracranial complications. It reduces unnecessary CT imaging while ensuring that clinically important brain injuries are not overlooked.

Minor head injury is common in emergency departments and often results from falls, sports accidents, assaults or motor vehicle collisions. While CT imaging is the gold standard for detecting bleeding, swelling or fractures in the brain, overuse leads to increased radiation exposure, longer patient wait times and higher healthcare costs.

The CCHR focuses on two sets of predictors. High-risk predictors help identify patients who may require neurosurgical intervention. Medium-risk predictors target patients with a significant probability of a clinically important brain injury, even if surgery is not needed. By following these evidence-based guidelines, clinicians can make safer, more efficient decisions about when to order a CT scan.

The rule was developed in Canada through a multicenter study and has since been validated internationally. It is endorsed by various emergency medicine and trauma care guidelines, including recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).