Evaluating Validity of Clinical Criteria for Requesting Chest X-Rays in Trauma Patients

Study of Accuracy of Clinical Examination for Chest Trauma

The purpose of this study is to identify the clinical criteria for requesting a chest x-ray in a patient with blunt trauma and its findings such as clinical signs with a high sensitivity could be used in a larger study to codify the final criteria.

At present, a Chest x-ray is obtained from all trauma patients having suspicion to chest trauma. The indications for such radiographs are not well defined. This results in a large number of unnecessary chest radiographs being obtained. Our goal was to identify the clinical criteria for requesting a chest x-ray in a patient with blunt trauma and its findings such as clinical signs with a high sensitivity could be used in a larger study to codify the final criteria.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Every patient with blunt trauma to chest

Exclusion Criteria:

• nothing