Sensitivity of Radiography for Identifying Pediatric Pelvic Injuries

A single anteroposterior pelvic radiograph had a sensitivity of 78% for detecting pelvic fractures or dislocations in children with blunt torso trauma.

In a subanalysis of a prospective observational study of children presenting with acute blunt torso trauma to emergency departments (EDs) in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN), investigators evaluated the sensitivity of plain anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs for detecting pelvic injuries (fractures or dislocations).

Of 12,044 patients (median age, 11 years), 451 (4%) were diagnosed with pelvic injuries and 65 patients (0.5%) underwent operative repair. Of 5076 patients who received an AP pelvic radiograph in the ED at the treating physician's discretion, 382 (8%) had pelvic injuries. Radiographs identified injuries in 297 of these patients (78%), in 55 of 60 patients (92%) with injuries requiring operative …

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Sensitivity of Radiography for Identifying Pediatric Pelvic Injuries

Topics

Reviewing Author