Usefulness of initial diagnostic tests carried out in the emergency department for blunt trauma

To evaluate the usefulness of the initial diagnostic tests carried out in blunt trauma patients in our emergency department.

Blunt trauma patients admitted between October 2009 and October 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. A scoring system was developed (0 to 28 points) to differentiate between potential major trauma patients and physiologically stable patients. Patients were classified into three groups: Group I (minor trauma), revised trauma score normal and our score 0-14; Group II (potential major trauma), revised trauma score normal and our score 15-28; Group III (major trauma), revised trauma score low. The proportions of patients with positive initial diagnostic test results (blood tests, X-rays, and computed tomography) were determined in each group.

The study included 1,291 patients (Group I, 1,019; Group II, 85; Group III, 187). Blood tests and X-rays were carried out frequently in all groups, but positive results were infrequent in Group I. Comparisons using Pearson's χ²-test showed significant differences in the proportions of patients with positive blood test, X-ray, and computed tomography results among the three groups. The proportions of patients with positive blood test and chest X-ray results were significantly lower in Group II than in Group III, but there were no significant differences in the proportions of patients with other positive results between these two groups.

In physiologically stable blunt trauma patients, diagnostic tests should be selected only after careful patient evaluation. To achieve this, standardized criteria for the identification of minor trauma patients should be established.