Authors: Rina P Patel Marta HernanzSchulman Melissa A Hilmes Chang Yu Jackie Ray J Herman Kan
Publish Date: 2010/02/24
Volume: 40, Issue: 7, Pages: 1246-1253
Abstract
Two hundred thirtyfive consecutive pediatric trauma patients who had both chest CT and radiography were identified Images were reviewed and findings were categorized and correlated with subsequent chest interventions blinded to final outcome and managementOf the 235 children 383 90/235 had an abnormal chest radiograph and 638 150/235 had an abnormal chest CT P 00001 Chest interventions followed in 47 11/235 of these the findings could be made 1 cm above the dome of the liver in 91 10/11 Findings requiring chest intervention included pneumothorax PTX and vertebral fractures PTX was found on 21 5/235 of chest radiographs and 200 47/235 of chest CTs P 00001 17 4/235 of the children received a chest tube for PTX 085 2/235 seen on chest CT only Vertebral fractures were present in 38 of the children 9/235 and 667 6/9 of those cases were treated with spinal fusion or brace There were no instances of mediastinal vascular injuryMost intrathoracic findings requiring surgical management in our population were identified in the lower chest and would be included in routine abdominopelvic CT exams this information needs to be taken into consideration in the diagnostic algorithm of pediatric trauma patients
Keywords: