Role of multidetector computed tomography in evaluation of chest trauma

Background Thoracic injuries represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in trauma. Radiologic imaging plays an important role to reach the diagnosis and can affect management of chest trauma. Objective To evaluate the role of multidetector computed tomography as an imaging modality in assessment of chest trauma. Patients and methods The current study included 60 cases referred to the Radiology Department known to be subjected to various types of chest trauma, the study was performed through the period from 6 to 24 months and was approved by our institution’s ethics committee. All patients gave their informed consent before inclusion in the study whenever their clinical condition is stable. Results The studied patients revealed that mean±SD of age was 27.28±16.20 years old, and males predominate females: 47 (78.3%) male patients, whereas females were only 13 (21.7%) patients. Patients were subjected to various modes of trauma, the commonest mode of trauma was blunt trauma by 86.7%, with motor vehicle accident that was the most leading cause (65%), while penetrating trauma was 13.3%. Different sites of fractures are shown: rib fracture seen in 23 (38.3%) patients, flail chest seen in 13 (21.7%) patients, facture of scapula was detected in four (6.7%) patients, fracture of clavicle seen in four (6.7%)patients, fracture of dorsal vertebrae occurred in 14 (23.3%) patients, and a single fracture of sternum (1.7%) was detected. Various pleural injuries were reported, with pneumothorax in 56.7%, tension pneumothorax 10%, and hemothorax in 20%. Lung parenchymal injuries in our study represent lung contusion that was the common finding in 53.3%, lung laceration in 5%, and atelectasis in 6.7%. According to the results, 95.0% of cases had no associated injuries, while 1.7% had hepatic laceration, 1.7% had renal laceration, and 1.7% had humerus fracture. Conclusion Multidetector computed tomography is a reliable imaging modality for assessment of chest trauma.