CT of blunt chest trauma in children

Imaging Evaluation for Thoracic Spine Fractures in Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Single-Center Experience at an Academic Children's Hospital

BACKGROUND

Imaging workup for evaluating thoracic spine fracture (TSF) in pediatric blunt trauma is variable.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to determine the number of TSFs missed by radiography and identified on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that required intervention or resulted in a change in management.

METHODS

A retrospective review of children with TSFs was performed. Diagnostic images and reports for these patients were reviewed. Data regarding demographics, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes were extracted from institutional electronic medical records. Use of radiographs, CT, and MRI for evaluation of TSF was quantified. Incidence of TSFs was calculated and stratified by mechanism. The number of TSFs and complicating factors missed on radiography but identified on subsequent CT or MRI were quantified.

RESULTS

Three thousand two hundred sixty-five trauma patients 18 years or younger were reviewed. Of these, 3.3% (90/3265) had TSFs (36 females, 54 males; mean age, 10.80 ± 4.4 years). The most common mechanism of injury was fall (43% [39/90]) followed by motor vehicle collisions (30% [27/90]). The most common fracture was simple compression fracture 64%, which occurred most frequently in the mid thoracic spine, followed by transverse process fractures 19% and spinous process fractures 7%. Almost half of all TSFs diagnosed on CT and/or MRI were missed on initial radiographs. While all fractures that required operative management were identified on radiographs, 13 of the 19 fractures that required nonoperative intervention were missed.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 50% of TSFs diagnosed on CT or MRI were not identified on preceding radiographs. This is similar to studies in adult populations that show poor sensitivity of radiographs.

Diagnostic Imaging in pediatric thoracic trauma

Thoracic trauma accounts for approximately 14% of blunt force traumatic deaths, second only to head injuries. Chest trauma can be blunt (90% of cases) or penetrating. In young patients, between 60 and 80% of chest injuries result from blunt trauma, with over half as a consequence of impact with motor vehicles, whereas in adolescents and adults, penetrating trauma has a statistically more prominent role. Pulmonary contusions and rib fractures are the most frequent injuries occurring. Chest X-ray is the first imaging modality of choice to identify patients presenting with life-threatening conditions (i.e., tension pneumothorax, huge hemothorax, and mediastinal hematoma) and those who require a CT examination. Multi-Slice Computed Tomography is the gold standard to evaluate chest injuries. In fact, the high spatial resolution, along with multiplanar reformation and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions, makes MDCT the ideal imaging method to recognize several chest injuries such as rib fractures, pneumothorax, hemothorax, lung contusions and lacerations, diaphragmatic rupture, and aortic injuries. Nevertheless, when imaging a young patient, one should always keep into account the ALARA concept, to balance an appropriate and low-dose technique with imaging quality and to reduce the amount of ionizing radiation exposure. According to this concept, in the recent years, the current trends in pediatric imaging support the rising use of alternative imaging modalities, such as US and MRI, to decrease radiation exposure and to answer specific clinical questions and during the observation period also. As an example, ultrasound is the first technique of choice for the diagnosis and treatment of pleural and pericardial effusion; its emerging indications include the evaluation of pneumothoraces, costocondral and rib fractures, and even pulmonary contusions.

Towards evidence-based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. BET: Is CT thorax necessary to exclude significant injury in paediatric patients with blunt chest trauma?

A shortcut review was carried out to establish if CXR had sufficient sensitivity to rule out significant thoracic injury in haemodynamically stable, paediatric patients with a significant mechanism of trauma. No studies were found that directly answered the three-part question, but 13 studies were found which were considered relevant. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that important thoracic injuries may not be clinically apparent and that CT scans have a significantly higher sensitivity than CXR in detecting such injuries.

Diagnostic imaging in pediatric polytrauma management

Trauma is the cause of over 45% of deaths in children aged 1 to 14 years. Since multiple injuries are common among children, the emergency physician has to assess all the organs of a high-energy injured child, independent of mechanism of the trauma. Even if the principles of polytrauma management are identical both in children and in adults, the optimal pediatric patient care requires a specific understanding of some important anatomical, physiological, and psychological differences that play a significant role in the assessment and management of a pediatric patient. Emergency Radiology already plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process of a polytraumatized child according to the primary survey, through the use of multiple imaging modalities. Radiological and Ultrasound examinations play a basic role in the hemodynamically unstable patients. In the hemodynamically stable patients whole-body CT scanning is the most immediate radiological procedure that allows the examination of all the body parts of a polytraumatized child, reducing the number of minor injuries that might otherwise be neglected.

Management of chest trauma in children

Chest trauma in children is caused by high-energy blows, due in general to traffic accidents, that involve several other body regions. They occur mainly in the first decade of life and can be penetrating but are more often non-penetrating. Rib fractures and lung contusions, sometimes associated with pneumothorax or haemothorax, are the more usual injuries, but tracheobronchial rupture, cardiac, oesophageal or diaphragmatic injuries may also occur. These injuries are treated with supportive respiratory and haemodynamic measures, drainage of air or blood from the pleural space and, at times, surgical repair of the injured organ(s). Ruptures of the airway may be difficult to treat and occasionally require suture, anastomosis or resection. Oesophageal injuries can be treated conservatively with antibiotics, drainage and parenteral nutrition. Diaphragmatic tears should be repaired operatively. Overall mortality ranges from 6 to 20%. Mortality is high but this is mainly due to the associated presence of extra-thoracic trauma, and particularly to head injuries.

Pediatric chest CT after trauma: impact on surgical and clinical management

BACKGROUND

Chest CT after pediatric trauma is frequently performed but its clinical impact, particularly with respect to surgical intervention, has not been adequately evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of chest CT compared with chest radiography on pediatric trauma management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred thirty-five consecutive pediatric trauma patients who had both chest CT and radiography were identified. Images were reviewed and findings were categorized and correlated with subsequent chest interventions, blinded to final outcome and management.

RESULTS

Of the 235 children, 38.3% (90/235) had an abnormal chest radiograph and 63.8% (150/235) had an abnormal chest CT (P < 0.0001). Chest interventions followed in 4.7% (11/235); of these, the findings could be made 1 cm above the dome of the liver in 91% (10/11). Findings requiring chest intervention included pneumothorax (PTX) and vertebral fractures. PTX was found on 2.1% (5/235) of chest radiographs and 20.0% (47/235) of chest CTs (P < 0.0001); 1.7% (4/235) of the children received a chest tube for PTX, 0.85% (2/235) seen on chest CT only. Vertebral fractures were present in 3.8% of the children (9/235) and 66.7% (6/9) of those cases were treated with spinal fusion or brace. There were no instances of mediastinal vascular injury.

CONCLUSION

Most intrathoracic findings requiring surgical management in our population were identified in the lower chest and would be included in routine abdominopelvic CT exams; this information needs to be taken into consideration in the diagnostic algorithm of pediatric trauma patients.

Experiences in severe chest trauma of children in 20 years

Though chest trauma in children is not so common as it is in adults, it may be life-threatening and suggest a high mortality. Herein we retrospected 59 cases of severe chest trauma of children out of 1506 chest trauma cases during 1986-2006 in our department. Features including demographic characteristics, causes, injury types, associated wound had been collected. There were 42 males (71.18%), 17 females (28.82%), 30 cases (50.84%) in the former 10 years and 29 cases (49.16%) in the latter 10 years. The incidence of children's severe chest trauma was 4.9% and 3.2%, respectively, averagely 3.9%. In these 59 cases, 46 cases were treated conservatively, 13 cases were treated by surgery. Four patients died, two in operations, the others attributed to ARDS and cardiac arrest, respectively. The cure rate was 93.22%. Statistic method was used to compare between two groups and with published results in the literature. Children's severe chest trauma is characteristic and different from adults. In our experience, accurate diagnoses and intensive care are very important to save their lives.

Paediatric chest trauma (part 1) — Initial Lethal Injuries

Chest trauma is the second greatest cause of mortality from trauma, a leading cause of death in children over the age of one. Prompt diagnosis can be difficult as the underlying thoracic injuries are often disproportionately severe compared to the visible surface injury and symptoms may not appear for several hours. Diagnosis is easily underestimated, delayed or missed. This is a two part article reviewing paediatric chest trauma and its current management. The injuries are usefully classified into six lethal injuries that need excluding in the primary survey and six hidden injuries that must be considered in the secondary survey. The first article reviews paediatric anatomy and biomechanics, and mechanisms of injury with a view to improving the awareness and understanding of the unique response of children to thoracic trauma. This is followed by an in depth review of each of the six lethal injuries. The subsequent article reviews the six hidden injuries as well as the role of chest trauma in non-accidental injury.

Paediatric chest trauma (part 2) — Hidden Injuries

Chest trauma is the second greatest cause of mortality from trauma, a leading cause of death in children over the age of one. Prompt diagnosis can be difficult as the underlying thoracic injuries are often disproportionately severe compared to the visible surface injury and symptoms may not appear for several hours. Diagnosis are easily underestimated, delayed or missed. This is the second of a 2 part article reviewing Paediatric chest trauma and its current management. The injuries are usefully classified into 6 lethal injuries that need excluding in the primary survey and 6 hidden injuries that must be considered in the secondary survey. The 6 lethal injuries are covered in the first part of this article along with biomechanics and mechanisms of injury. This article looks in depth at the 6 hidden injuries, along with a review of chest trauma in non-accidental injury.

Rate and Prediction of Traumatic Injuries Detected by Abdominal Computed Tomography Scan in Intubated Children

BACKGROUND

Recent concerns about the lifetime cancer risk associated computed tomography (CT) caused us to reevaluate the utility of this test in traumatized children. In addition, little is known regarding the utility of abdominal CT in children who have been emergently intubated. We sought to describe the injuries identified by abdominal CTs in intubated pediatric trauma patients and create a derivation set of predictors of intra-abdominal injury in this patient population.

METHODS

A review was conducted of patients cared for at a Level I pediatric trauma center. Patients were included if they were emergently intubated after blunt trauma and had an emergent abdominal CT performed. Outcome measures included the presence of an intra-abdominal injury on CT, the need for exploratory laparotomy (ELAP), the findings of the ELAP, and death. Logistic regression was used to determine which variables were associated with an abnormal abdominal CT scan.

RESULTS

In all, 118 met inclusion criteria; the median age was 7.2 years. Thirty- two patients (27.1%) were found to have at least one abdominal injury on CT scan. One ELAP was performed and 12 patients died. Of the variables analyzed, abdominal examination abnormalities and elevated liver function tests (LFTs) were significantly associated with injuries. When both were abnormal, 75% of patients (12/16) had abnormal scans (sensitivity = 71%, specificity = 92%, positive predictive value = 75%, negative predictive value = 91%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, a significant number of intubated pediatric trauma victims had intra-abdominal injuries identified by CT scan. The presence of abnormal abdominal examination findings and elevated LFTs appear to predict an abnormal CT scan.

Imaging Evaluation of Pediatric Chest Trauma

Following a discussion of the various imaging manifestations of pediatric chest trauma by anatomic location, the authors discuss their diagnostic approach to the pediatric multitrauma patient with an emphasis on chest imaging.

Should helical CT scanning of the thoracic cavity replace the conventional chest x-ray as a primary assessment tool in pediatric trauma? An efficacy and cost analysis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Findings from studies in the trauma literature suggest that thoracic computed tomography (TCT) scanning should replace conventional radiographs as an initial imaging modality. Limited data exist on the clinical utility and cost of TCT scans in pediatric trauma. Our current practice is to obtain TCT scans in those children at risk for thoracic injures. The purpose of this study is to examine what additional information TCT provides, how frequently it results in a change in clinical management, and a cost/benefit analysis.

METHODS

Children 18 years old and younger that had both a Chest x-ray (CXR) and TCT scan in their initial workup were included. Indications for TCT scan were (1) any sign of thoracic injury on CXR, (2) pathologic findings on physical examination of the chest, and (3) high impact force to chest wall. A child may have had one or more indications for a TCT scan.

RESULTS

Between 1996 and 2000, 45 of 1,638 trauma patients met study criteria. Indications for TCT included thoracic injury on CXR (n = 27), findings on physical examination (n = 8) and high-impact force (n = 33). In 18 of the 45 (40%), injuries were detected with TCT imaging but not on CXR. These included contusions (n = 12), hemothorax (n = 6), pneumothorax (n = 5), widened mediastinum (n = 4), rib fractures (n = 2), diaphragmatic rupture (n = 1), and aortic injury (n = 1). In 8 patients (17.7%) TCT imaging resulted in a change in clinical management. These included insertion of a chest tube (n = 5) aortography (n = 2) and operation (n = 1). Age, sex, injury severity score, mechanism, and indication for TCT could not predict differences between TCT and CXR (P >.05). In our institution, the cost of a TCT is $200, and the patient charge is $906 ($94 per CXR). Based on our study data 200 TCTs would need to be done for each clinically significant change, increasing patient ($180,000) and hospital ($39,600) costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Helical TCT is a highly sensitive imaging modality for the thoracic cavity; however, routine CXR still provides clinically valuable information for the initial trauma evaluation at minimal cost. TCT should be reserved for selected cases and not as a primary imaging tool.

A clinical decision rule for identifying children with thoracic injuries after blunt torso trauma

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the prevalence of thoracic injuries in children sustaining blunt torso trauma and to develop a clinical prediction rule to identify children with these injuries.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled pediatric patients (<16 years) who presented to the emergency department of a Level I trauma center with blunt torso trauma and underwent chest radiography. Clinical findings were recorded in a standardized fashion by the ED faculty physician. Thoracic injuries included the following: pulmonary contusion, hemothorax, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, tracheal-bronchial disruption, aortic injury, hemopericardium, pneumopericardium, cardiac contusion, rib fracture, sternal fracture, or any injury to the diaphragm. Multiple logistic regression and recursive partitioning analyses were performed to generate a clinical prediction rule for identifying children with these injuries.

RESULTS

Nine hundred eighty-six patients with a mean age of 8.3+/-4.8 years were enrolled. Eighty (8.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.5% to 10.0%) patients sustained thoracic injuries. Multiple logistic regression and recursive partitioning analyses identified the following predictors of thoracic injuries: low systolic blood pressure (14% with injury versus 2% without injury; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.6), elevated age-adjusted respiratory rate (51% versus 16%; adjusted OR 2.9), abnormal results on examination of the thorax (68% versus 36%; adjusted OR 3.6), abnormal chest auscultation findings (14% versus 1%; adjusted OR 8.6), femur fracture (13% versus 5%; adjusted OR 2.2), and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of less than 15 (61% versus 26%; adjusted OR 3.3). Seventy-eight (98%; 95% CI 91% to 100%) of the 80 patients with thoracic injuries had at least 1 of these predictive factors. Three hundred thirty-six (37%) children had none of these predictive factors, including 2 (0.6%; 95% CI 0.1% to 2.1%) with thoracic injuries. These 2 injuries, however, did not require any intervention.

CONCLUSION

Predictors of thoracic injury in children sustaining blunt torso trauma include low systolic blood pressure, elevated respiratory rate, abnormal results on thoracic examination, abnormal chest auscultation findings, femur fracture, and a GCS score of less than 15. These predictors can be used to create a sensible clinical decision rule for the identification of children with thoracic injuries.

Evaluation of the utility of computed tomography in the initial assessment of the critical care patient with chest trauma

OBJECTIVE

To determine the utility of thoracic computed tomography (TCT) in the initial assessment of critically ill patients with chest injuries.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study of cohorts.

SETTING

Trauma intensive care unit (ICU) of a Spanish Level III hospital (US equivalent Level I).

PATIENTS

Three hundred seventy-five patients with chest injuries were studied, grouped into two cohorts according to whether they underwent admission TCT (exposed cohort, group I, n = 104) or not (unexposed cohort, group II, n = 271).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Demographic data, initial severity scores, and chest radiograph (CXR)-based diagnosis were collected in all patients as independent variables. In patients of group I, we also recorded the TCT-based diagnosis and any incidents, complications, or therapy changes resulting from the TCT. The need for and duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and ICU mortality were gathered in the whole sample as dependent variables. The admission data were similar in the two groups, except for a higher Injury Severity Score (ISS) and thoracic ISS in group I. TCT proved to be more sensitive than CXR in detecting pulmonary contusion, hemothorax, pneumothorax, and vertebral fractures and in identifying the faulty placement of chest drainage tubes. TCT findings induced therapy changes in approximately 30% of patients in group I. In the other dependent variables studied, there were no differences between the two groups. In the multivariate analysis, the TCT screening had no effects on the time on mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, or mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

TCT detects more chest injuries in trauma patients than does CXR and induces therapy changes in a considerable number of patients. However, this does not translate into an improvement in clinical outcomes.

Delayed hemopericardium due to trivial chest trauma

We report two cases of hemopericardium occurring in seven-month-old and 12-year-old boys, who had no history of major trauma. The possible cause of the hemopericardium for the infant was falling from a bed which was 75 cm high two weeks prior to the admission. The 12-year-old boy had fallen from a chair and damaged his chest 4 weeks previously. Their coagulation tests were all normal. By means of pericardiotomy, we drained 120 ml and 1200 ml of blood, respectively. The boys have now been well over follow-up periods of 24 and 18 months, respectively.

Computed tomography of the chest in blunt thoracic trauma: results of a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography of the chest (CTC) is more sensitive than conventional roentgenography at detecting blunt thoracic injuries. Its effect on subsequent therapy remains incompletely characterized.

METHODS

Nine criteria believed to represent the presence of, or the potential for, significant thoracic injuries were defined, and patients were followed prospectively. Forty consecutive patients had CTC after initial evaluation. Physiologic and anatomic findings were compared, and the effect of CTC on therapy was analyzed.

RESULTS

CTC detected 76 injuries not found on plain roentgenograms, and plain roentgenograms detected 25 injuries not visible on CTC scans. Six patients had therapy changes based on CTC findings, five of which involved chest tube modification. The percentage of pulmonary contusion did not predict the need for mechanical ventilation but did correlate with physiologic contusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Blunt thoracic injuries detected by CTC infrequently require immediate therapy. If immediate therapy is needed, findings will be visible on plain roentgenograms or on clinical exam. Routine CTC in blunt trauma is not recommended but may be helpful in selected cases.

Pediatric and adult thoracic trauma: age-related impact on presentation and outcome

To assess the impact of age on presentation and outcome, 2,415 cases involving blunt and penetrating thoracic trauma over an 8-year period were reviewed retrospectively from a single level I trauma center. Of the 2,073 patients alive on arrival, 79 were 12 years of age or less (children), 137 were 13 to 17 years of age (adolescent), 1,742 were 18 to 59 years of age (adults), and 115 were 60 years of age or more (elderly). Chi-square analysis was performed relative to presentation (blunt versus penetrating), need for thoracotomy, and hospital mortality. Although blunt thoracic trauma comprised 64/79 of children (81%) and 90/115 of the elderly (78%), penetrating thoracic trauma was more common for adolescents 79/137 (58%) and adults 1013/1742 (58%) (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in need for thoracotomy among the four age groups after blunt thoracic trauma. For penetrating trauma, however, there was a significantly higher incidence of thoracotomy in children as compared with the other three age groups (p < 0.05).

IN CONCLUSION

(1) Blunt injuries comprised a greater proportion of thoracic trauma in children and the elderly. (2) In this series, children with penetrating thoracic trauma underwent thoracotomy more frequently. (3) Hospital mortality appeared to be increased for the elderly. (4) Analyses of pediatric thoracic trauma must separate children from adolescent age groups.