Systematic Sonography for Detection of Occult Wounds in Trauma

Treating victims of penetrating trauma is challenging, especially in a mass-casualty or resource-limited setting. The traditional focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination is a well-established clinical tool in the initial evaluation of trauma victims. This article describes a novel technique of systematic sonography of the abdomen to look for occult wounds, which is used in conjunction with the focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination to evaluate occult intraperitoneal injury and improve patient treatment and use of resources. The technique is highlighted in a case of a child injured in a conflict zone in northern Iraq.