Abstract
Purpose: To compare the diagnostic yield of conventional radiographs versus helical computed tomography (CT) in screening acute trauma patients. Methods: We reviewed 604 trauma patients who presented to our level I trauma emergency room and underwent both conventional radiography and spiral CT of the cervical spine of. Results: Of the 604 patients, 30 (5.13 %) had fractures seen on helical CT, only 10 of which were diagnosed on conventional radiography. Conclusion: In the screening of acute trauma patients, conventional radiography is less sensitive in detecting fractures than helical CT. CT should therefore be considered as a standard modality choice in such cases.
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Lee, H., Sharma, V., Shah, K. et al. The role of spiral CT vs plain films in acute cervical spine trauma: a comparative study. Emergency Radiology 8, 311–314 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00011930
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00011930