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BLUNT CHEST TRAUMA –AN AUDIT OF INJURIES DIAGNOSED BY MULTIDETECTOR-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

  • Unique Paper ID: 177755
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 12
  • PageNo: 1299-1305
  • Abstract:
  • Introduction: Blunt chest trauma is a significant contributor to trauma-related morbidity and mortality, especially in young to middle-aged adults. Timely and accurate diagnosis of thoracic injuries is crucial to optimize treatment outcomes. Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) has emerged as the preferred imaging modality for evaluating chest injuries due to its high speed, accuracy, and ability to detect subtle lesions not visible on conventional radiography. Aim: To determine the most common types of thoracic injuries, associated extra thoracic injuries, and treatment outcomes among patients presenting with blunt chest trauma evaluated by MDCT. Objectives: To assess thoracic injuries diagnosed through MDCT after initial clinical stabilization of trauma patients. To classify the spectrum of injuries detected and analyse their frequency. To identify the mechanisms of injury and associated extrathoracic injuries. To evaluate the impact of MDCT findings on patient management. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 61 patients (mean age 43.9 years) who sustained blunt chest trauma and were treated at the Centre of Radiology, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Serbia. All patients underwent MDCT imaging using Siemens 16- and 64-slice scanners. Data collected included demographics, cause and time of injury, thoracic and extrathoracic injuries, and treatment outcomes. Patients with non-traumatic injuries were excluded. Materials: Imaging Equipment: Siemens 16-slice and 64-slice MDCT scanners. Inclusion criteria: Rib fractures, clavicular fractures, scapular fractures, vertebral fractures, pneumothorax, lung injuries, pleural effusion, pneumomediastinum, mediastina hematoma, and other specified thoracic injuries. Results: The average patient age was 43.9 years; males comprised 75.4% of the study group. Motor vehicle accidents were the predominant cause (63.9%), followed by falls from height (19.7%). Rib fractures were the most common thoracic injury (65.6%), followed by pulmonary contusions (49.2%) and pneumothorax (36.1%). More than 80% of patients had associated extrathoracic injuries, primarily involving the extremities, pelvis, and head. No cases of diaphragmatic rupture were detected. MDCT proved superior in identifying lung parenchymal injuries and mediastinal conditions compared to traditional radiography. Conclusion: Blunt chest trauma primarily affects males in their forties, predominantly due to motor vehicle accidents. MDCT enables rapid and detailed evaluation of thoracic injuries, uncovering clinically significant findings often missed by conventional radiographs. The routine use of 3D reconstructions, especially in cases with pneumomediastinum, enhances the detection of tracheobronchial injuries. MDCT should be the imaging modality of choice in evaluating patients with blunt chest trauma.
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Cite This Article

  • ISSN: 2349-6002
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 12
  • PageNo: 1299-1305

BLUNT CHEST TRAUMA –AN AUDIT OF INJURIES DIAGNOSED BY MULTIDETECTOR-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

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