Trauma Series: Is It Really Necessary For Every Trauma Patient?

Objective: To review role of Trauma Series, established by American college of surgery for patients of multiple trauma, which include lateral cervical spine, AP chest, and anteroposterior pelvis in evaluation of trauma patient in our local set up. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was carried out 10 months in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. Subject of our study were adult patients with blunt trauma who had undergone trauma series. Results: Total of 600 x-rays of 200 pa66tients were reviewed. The age range from 16 - 65 years (Mean 24.5 +/- 8.5). Trauma series was negative in 162 patients, as they had normal lateral cervical spine, anteroposterior chest, and anteroposterior pelvis x-rays, however it turned out to be positive in 38 patients. These 38 patients were received in Emergency with history of trauma among these most of the patients had the history of RTA. Out of 38 positive cases (total 45 sites of injury), 10 rib fracture, 10 fractures of clavicle,1 pneumothorax, 2 pleural effusion, 4 cervical spine fracture, 1 dislocation of cervical spine, 1 rudimentary intervertebral disc at C6-C7, 7 fracture of femur and 4 fracture of pubic rami,1 ischium fracture,2 iliac fracture, 1 hip dislocation,1 inter-trochanteric region fracture identified. Conclusion: Our review suggests that use of whole trauma series in evaluation of trauma in conscious patient is not necessary when adequate clinical information can be obtained. Instead, a selective approach by using individual component of whole trauma series in conscious patient may be effective.