Journal of Trauma and Injury

The Korean Society of Traumatology (대한외상학회)
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Is There a Need for Conventional Spine Radiographs Following a Negative Chest and Abdominal CT in Trauma Patients?

흉, 복부 전산화 단층촬영이 정상인 외상 환자에게 척추 단순촬영이 필요한가?

  • Oh, Sung Chan (Department of Emergency Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University)
  • 오성찬 (인제대학교 의과대학 상계백병원 응급의학과)
  • Received : 2009.03.26
  • Accepted : 2009.06.07
  • Published : 2009.06.30
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Abstract

Purpose: This was conducted to assess the need for conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine for routine screening of trauma patients who revealed no spinal trauma on chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of trauma patients who underwent conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine following a chest and abdominal CT that revealed no spinal trauma. Results: Two hundred seventy-five trauma patients underwent conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine following a chest and abdominal CT that revealed no spinal trauma. In 274 of the cases, the thoracolumbar spine series was also negative. Conclusion: CT of the chest and abdomen is an adequate evaluation of the thoracolumbar spine in trauma patients who require routine thoracolumbar spine screening, making subsequent conventional radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine unnecessary.

Keywords

References

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