Occult Injuries Commonly Identified on Torso CT After Mild Trauma

This study fails to convince that computed tomography imaging adds value in asymptomatic patients with mild injuries.

Computed tomography (CT) identifies more injuries than physical examination and plain radiography alone, although there is no proven clinical benefit to liberal versus selective CT imaging (NEJM JW Emerg Med Aug 2016 and Lancet 2016; 388:673). To assess the added utility of liberal CT scanning of the torso in mildly injured patients, researchers performed a retrospective analysis of blunt-trauma patients over age 15 with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 14 or 15 in a level 1 trauma center.

The study included 2306 patients, with an average age of 52 and a mean injury severity score of 8. Of the 1571 patients with normal chest exams, 829 underwent CT and 15% had an occult chest injury, mostly rib fractures. Three patients had suspected aortic inju…

Reviewing Author

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Occult Injuries Commonly Identified on Torso CT After Mild Trauma

Topics

Reviewing Author