Abstract

Background
The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the Abdomen/Pelvis CT scan for diagnosis of additional thorax injuries in multiple trauma patients. Methods: This study was conducted with 143 multiple trauma patients who visited on the emergency department of Samsung Medical Center, from May. 1997 to Apr. 2004. We reviewed and analysed medical record, the result of their Chest AP view, abdomen/pelvis and Chest CT scan, retrospectively. Results: For 143 abdomen/pelvis injury patients, 84 patients (58.7%) were identified as having additional thorax injuries by Chest CT scans. Detection rate of rib fractures and pulmonary contusions were no difference between Chest AP view and Abdomen/Pelvis CT scan. But Abdomen/Pelvis CT scan had more effective detection rate than Chest AP view in pneumothoraces (15.9% Vs 93.6%) and hemothorace(69.2% Vs 92.3%). Conclusions: Abdomen/Pelvis CT scan provided more important information than Chest AP view for the diagnosis of the thoracic traumas that often missed on initial evaluation in multiple trauma patients. Among the thoracic injuries, pneumothoraces and hemothoraces can be highly detected in Abdomen/Pelvis CT scan.

• Keywords: Multiple trauma, Abdomen/pelvis CT scan, Thorax injuries