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Traumatic intracranial haemorrhage risk — MCCQE Part 1 MCQ

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HardTraumaTraumatic intracranial haemorrhage riskMCCQE Part 1

A 74-year-old man on apixaban falls and hits his head. He has a brief loss of consciousness and now has a mild headache but normal neurological examination. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Urgent CT head and observation according to head injury pathway

Older age, anticoagulation and loss of consciousness after head trauma warrant urgent CT assessment even with a normal examination. DOACs reduce some risks compared with warfarin but do not eliminate intracranial bleeding. Aspirin and lumbar puncture do not evaluate traumatic haemorrhage risk.

Reference: https://mcc.ca/objectives/medical-experts/