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PoCUS evaluating blunt thoracic trauma: a retrospective analysis of 18 months of emergency department activity

  • Original Article • THORAX - TRAUMA
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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Blunt thoracic injury (BTI) constitutes a common presentation in emergency department: rib fractures are the most common injuries. Chest X-ray (CXR) has a limited sensitivity to identify rib fractures. We perform this retrospective study in our emergency department collecting all patients with BTI during an 18-month period. PoCUS was performed prior to acquire CXR or CT. We evaluated 1672 patients with BTI, and we reported rib fractures in 689 patients (41.21%). PoCUS was performed in 190 patients. PoCUS in emergency medicine has an increasing role, especially in BTI, but less clear is its role in detecting ribs fracture. PoCUS seems to be an effective method for diagnosing rib fracture in patients with blunt chest trauma if collaborative and with a well-isolated trauma. We used the trick of patients’ self-positioning probe in the most painful site, and this could reduce the time and the pain of the examination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. S.C. Medicina e Chirurgia d’Accettazione e d’Urgenza, Ospedale San Paolo Savona, Pronto Soccorso, Via Genova, 17100, Savona, Italy

    Alessandro Riccardi, Maria Beatrice Spinola, Valeria Ghiglione, Marco Licenziato & Roberto Lerza

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  1. Alessandro Riccardi
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  2. Maria Beatrice Spinola
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  3. Valeria Ghiglione
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  4. Marco Licenziato
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  5. Roberto Lerza
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Correspondence to Alessandro Riccardi.

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Riccardi, A., Spinola, M., Ghiglione, V. et al. PoCUS evaluating blunt thoracic trauma: a retrospective analysis of 18 months of emergency department activity. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 29, 31–35 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2283-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2283-y

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