List Archives

Tue Nov 22 00:00:06 GMT 2005

A question for anyone.

Who routinely does CT chest with an abdo when the history of the accident only involves blunt abdo injuries? What is your threshold for CT of the chest in these cases?

We recently had a missed injury (T3 -4 crush #) on a patient who presented after a car vs truck  accident. Their initial injuries were # tib/fib, #radial head and large deep lacerations to the scalp, elbow and thigh. The patient had a strong psychiatric history.

Plain x-rays were the usual trauma series. Head, neck, face and abdo CT were performed. 

Following a CT chest for a pulmonary complication 11 days later, the thoracic vertebral fractures were discovered.

Would be interested to hear your views.

Rachael Henson 
Acting Trauma Coordinator
The Canberra Hospital
6244 2793 or page 50566 

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Thresholds for CT chest in blunt abdo trauma