Full-body CT scan in Polytrauma Diagnosis. Analysis of Ten Years’ Experience

Abstract

Introduction. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the entire body has become a standard practice for the diagnosis of patients with polytrauma in many trauma centres. Purpose: evaluation of diagnostic potential of full-body CT for patients with polytrauma.Materials and methods. In the period from January 2008 to December 2018, all hemodynamically stable patients (scoring 3 and above in the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and 15 and above in the Injury Severity Score (ISS)) admitted to the Main Republican Head Injury Centre CCH №21 in Ufa with injuries in two or more anatomical areas have undergone CT scanning of head, neck (including cervical spine), chest (including thoracic spine), abdominal cavity/pelvis (including lumbar spine).Results and discussion. In the period from January 2008 to December 2018, 1498 CT examinations were conducted. Out of these examinations, 1368 and 143 cases were polytrauma — (on average 2 cases per week) and monotrauma (10 % of the study group) patients. Only 17 patients failed to complete the examination for polytrauma due to deteriorating status. All of these 17 had been returned to the intensive care unit without delay.Conclusion. In a decade 1368 patients met the established criteria for an immediate CT scan for the diagnosis of polytrauma at a large hospital providing emergency healthcare. A broad range of significant injuries was diagnosed quickly, accurately and safely. These injuries included 31 cervical spine fractures and 56 pneumothoraxes not evidenced by conventional X-ray images.

Keywords

• политравма
• компьютерная томография
• показатели тяжести травмы
• сокращенная шкала повреждений
• диагностика