Document Detail


Frequent computed tomography scanning due to incomplete three-view X-ray imaging of the cervical spine.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20016389     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Conventional C-spine imaging (3-view series) is still widely used in trauma patients, although the utilization of computed tomography (CT) scanning is increasing. The aim of this study was to analyze the value of conventional radiography and the frequency of subsequent CT scanning due to incompleteness of three-view series of the C-spine in adult blunt trauma patients. METHODS: We analyzed the data of a prospectively collected database including all patients between November 2005 and November 2007 treated in the trauma resuscitating room. We assessed the reasons for subsequent CT scanning after the three-view series according to the following classification: inevaluability, incompletion, evaluation of findings on three-view series or evaluation of unexplained, and persistent clinical symptoms. Furthermore, we evaluated possible predictors for incompleteness. RESULTS: Of 1,283 blunt trauma patients, 88 C-spine injuries were diagnosed with an overall incidence of 6.9%. One hundred fifty-nine patients (12%) had their C-spine cleared based on the NEXUS criteria and 12 died before C-spine imaging could be performed. A total of 717 patients were primarily evaluated with three-view series and 395 patients primarily with CT scanning. Within the population with primarily three-view series, 249 (35%) were repeatedly incomplete and 16 (2%) were inevaluable. In the majority of the incomplete three-view series, no apparent reason could be determined. However, the presence of clavicular fractures (resulting in incomplete radiographs in 68% vs. 34% without a fracture; p < 0.001) and rib fractures (56% vs. 34%; p = 0.008) were associated with incomplete three-view series. CONCLUSION: In more than one third of the patients primarily assessed with three-view X-ray series of the C-spine, the results are incomplete or inevaluable necessitating CT scanning. Although the majority of the incomplete series remain unexplained, we advise CT scanning in patients having clavicular and rib fractures because this increases the likelihood of obtaining incomplete three-view series.
Authors:
Teun Peter Saltzherr; Ludo F M Beenen; Johannes B Reitsma; Jan S K Luitse; W Peter Vandertop; J Carel Goslings
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of trauma     Volume:  68     ISSN:  1529-8809     ISO Abbreviation:  J Trauma     Publication Date:  2010 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-05-10     Completed Date:  2010-05-27     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376373     Medline TA:  J Trauma     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1213-7     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Trauma Unit Department of Surgery, Neurosurgical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.p.saltzherr@amc.uva.nl
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Artifacts
Cervical Vertebrae* / injuries,  radiography
Clavicle / injuries
Clinical Protocols
Diagnostic Errors / statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Trauma / radiography
Netherlands / epidemiology
Patient Selection
Physician's Practice Patterns
Posture
Prospective Studies
Rib Fractures / radiography
Spinal Fractures / radiography
Spinal Injuries / epidemiology,  radiography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*,  utilization
Trauma Centers
Unnecessary Procedures / statistics & numerical data
Wounds, Nonpenetrating / radiography

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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