Role of computed tomography (CT) scan in patients with blunt chest trauma

Abstract

Chest trauma is classified as blunt or penetrating, with blunt trauma being the cause of most thoracic injuries (90%). The main difference in penetrating trauma is opening the thoracic cavity, created either by stabbing or gunshot wounds, which is absent in blunt chest trauma. Following head and extremities injuries, Blunt thoracic injuries are the third most common injury in polytrauma patients. Assessment of blunt chest trauma patients with clinical and radiographic finding suggestive of pneumothorax, rib fractures, effusion and suspected lung injuries. A cases of 100 patients were included in the study with the age group between 18-49 years. Patients referred from the trauma centre with blunt chest trauma due to road traffic accidents and high velocity trauma. The hospital staff collects data of all trauma patients who were transferred-into the trauma centre with blunt chest trauma. Pneumothorax was detected in 28 patients, 19 patients had associated rib fracture and 11 patients had associated pleural effusion. 11 patients were associated with subcutaneous emphysema .In 19 patients, underlying lung parenchymal injury was present. Hemothorax was detected in 15 patients on CT scan. Pneumomediastinum was detected in 3 patients, while pneumopericardium was not seen in any case. Pulmonary contusion was detected in 15 patients. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan is the modality of choice for rapid assessment of emergency chest trauma patients where associated abdominal injuries can be scanned in one sitting with high sensitivity and specificity.