Dr. Roach Urges CT Scans After Head Falls for Patients 65+ on Blood Thinners

1 articles · Updated · Detroit News · Aug 17

Patients over 65 or taking anticoagulants should get ER evaluation and a head CT after a fall with head impact, Dr. Roach said, even when visible injury seems limited.
A retired physician cited an older traveler whose forehead bleeding was treated locally but who reached a hospital days later with intracranial bleeding and a decreased level of consciousness.
Dr. Roach said vomiting, 30 minutes of amnesia, seizures or signs of skull fracture also warrant CT imaging after a fall; he specifically noted drugs such as apixaban and clopidogrel.
On knee arthritis, he urged caution on genicular artery embolization, saying sham-controlled studies showed little to no benefit even though before-and-after studies reported pain relief lasting up to 2 years.
For severe knee osteoarthritis, he said replacement surgery may deliver longer-lasting improvement and typically requires 2 to 3 months of supervised physical therapy, not a full year.