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  • Title: [Ultrasound diagnosis in blunt thoracic trauma].
    Author: Wüstner A, Gehmacher O, Hämmerle S, Schenkenbach C, Häfele H, Mathis G.
    Journal: Ultraschall Med; 2005 Aug; 26(4):285-90. PubMed ID: 16123922.
    Abstract:
    AIM: Aim of the study was to determine the rate of injuries detectable by ultrasonography in patients suffering from blunt thoracic trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ultrasonography of the thorax was prospectively performed in patients with blunt chest trauma additionally to the routine radiological diagnostic procedures. A comparison between ultrasonography and chest x-ray findings referring to the rate of detection of fractures and pleural effusions was performed. RESULTS: 100 patients were enrolled in the study. 23 of them were examined within 24 hours after the trauma, the remaining 77 were examined with a delay of more than 24 hours. The findings detectable by ultrasonography were the following: fractured rib 65%, fracture of sternum 7%, fracture of clavicle 1%, rib fracture with callus 3%, haematoma of the chest wall 11%, pleural effusion 37%, pneumothorax 1%, atelectasis 8%, pneumonia 1%, lung contusion 18%, splenic rupture 3%. Rib fractures were detected in 36% of the patients and pleural effusions were detected in 11%, respectively, by chest x-ray. CONCLUSION: Rib fractures and pleural effusions are commonly diagnosed by ultrasonography in patients with blunt thoracic trauma. Concerning the diagnosis of rib fractures (65% versus 36%) and pleural effusions (37% versus 11%), ultrasonography is superior to chest-x-ray. A new and remarkable result is that subpleural infiltrates which are supposed to be lung contusions are also detectable by ultrasonography.
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