Chest X-rays are essential for evaluating thoracic injuries following trauma. Common injuries seen include rib fractures, lung contusions and tears that can lead to pneumothorax, and heart injuries. A chest X-ray is useful for initially screening for things like tube placement, hemopneumothorax, and flail chest but CT scan is better for detecting injuries like aortic injuries, diaphragm tears, and injuries to other organs. For patients with multiple traumatic injuries, CT scan is recommended over chest X-ray for its ability to evaluate multiple body regions at once.
Chest X-rays are essential for evaluating thoracic injuries following trauma. Common injuries seen include rib fractures, lung contusions and tears that can lead to pneumothorax, and heart injuries. A chest X-ray is useful for initially screening for things like tube placement, hemopneumothorax, and flail chest but CT scan is better for detecting injuries like aortic injuries, diaphragm tears, and injuries to other organs. For patients with multiple traumatic injuries, CT scan is recommended over chest X-ray for its ability to evaluate multiple body regions at once.
Chest X-rays are essential for evaluating thoracic injuries following trauma. Common injuries seen include rib fractures, lung contusions and tears that can lead to pneumothorax, and heart injuries. A chest X-ray is useful for initially screening for things like tube placement, hemopneumothorax, and flail chest but CT scan is better for detecting injuries like aortic injuries, diaphragm tears, and injuries to other organs. For patients with multiple traumatic injuries, CT scan is recommended over chest X-ray for its ability to evaluate multiple body regions at once.
Elena
Maliani,
MD
Preface
ü 2/3
of
vicAms
of
major
blunt
trauma
suffer
from
thoracic
injury.
ü Thoracic
injury
account
for
20-‐25%
of
deaths
due
to
trauma.
ü Major
thoracic
trauma
is
associated
with
mulAsystem
injuries
in
70%
of
cases.
What
we
are
looking
for?
SystemaAc
evaluaAon
for
thoracic
trauma
:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
AorAc
injury
Bronchial
injury
Cord
injury
/
Contusion
of
the
lung
Diaphragm
injury
Esophageal
tear
Flail
chest
Gas
(pneumothorax/emfisema)
Heart
(cardiac
injury)
Iatrogenic
tube
/
line
malposiAon
Common
injury
develop
aBer
chest
trauma
1. Thoracic
cage
fractures
2. Lung
contusion
and
tears
(pneumothorax)
3. Heart
injury
4. AorAc
rupture
Imaging
Modality
ü Chest
X-‐Ray
:
Tube/line
posiAon,
hemo-‐ pneumothorax,
flail
chest,
mediasAnal
widening
(aorAc
injury),
lung
contusion
ü USG
:
Hemothorax,
pnuemothorax
ü CT
scan
:
AorAc
injury,
diaprhagm
and
tracheobronchial
injury,
cord
injury,
heart
injury,
esophageal
injury
Imaging
survey
ü Chest
x-‐ray
:
serve
as
a
screening
rather
than
a
definite
test
à
repeat
radiography
should
be
ordered
if
suspicious
ü Computed
tomography
:
highly
sensiAve
in
detecAng
injuries
and
superior
to
rouAne
chest
x-‐rayà
recommended
in
paAents
with
mulAple
trauma
ü Chest
ultrasound
:
detect
hemothorax,
FAST
Pneumothorax
Chest
X-‐Ray
ü Depp
sulcus
sign
ü Hiperexpanded
hemithorax
ü Avascular
lucency
area
ü Pleural
line
ü Subcutaneous
emphysema
Pneumothorax
Chest
X-‐Ray
ü Depp
sulcus
sign
ü Hiperexpanded
hemithorax
ü Avascular
lucency
area
ü Pleural
line
ü Subcutaneous
emphysema
Hematopnuemo thorak
ü Air
fluid
level
/
loss
of
costrophrenic
sulcus
ü Hiperexpanded
hemithorax
ü Avascular
lucency
area
ü Pleural
line
ü Subcutaneous
emphysema
Hematopnuemo thorak
ü Air
fluid
level
/
loss
of
costrophrenic
sulcus
ü Hiperexpanded
hemithorax
ü Avascular
lucency
area
ü Pleural
line
ü Subcutaneous
emphysema
Emphysema
subcu.s
ü So`
Assue
lucency
area
Emphysema
subcu.s
ü So`
Assue
lucency
area
Aor.c
injury
ü MediasAnal
widening
(>
8
cm
at
aorAc
arch
level)
ü Tracheal
shi`
to
the
right
ü Le`
apical
pleural
cap
ü Normal
(10-‐15%)
à
CT
scan
Flail
Chest
ü
2
or
more
segmental
rib
fracture
Tube
malposiAon
Mul.pel
Trauma
ü CT
scan
superior
than
X
ray
ü With
contrast
agent
ü Thorax
and
abdominal
ü Higher
le`
diaphragm