CT Findings of Pediatric Handlebar Injuries

Direct bicycle handlebar injuries are a significant cause of chest and abdominal trauma and morbidity in the pediatric population. However, these injuries have been underemphasized. While blunt abdominal trauma has been described well, the literature is limited in reviewing trauma imaging specifically related to direct handlebar injuries in the pediatric population. Major chest injuries include lung contusions, pneumatoceles, and pneumothorax. In the abdomen, injuries to the pancreas, small bowel, mesentery, liver, and spleen are the more common abdominal injuries attributed to direct handlebar trauma. Traumatic abdominal wall hernias and groin injuries, which may be associated with vascular injuries, are other known injuries. The challenge is in both clinical and radiographic diagnosis. The physical findings are often underwhelming, and laboratory values in many studies are shown to be not very sensitive or specific. As a result, there is a risk of delay in imaging, diagnosis, and treatment of significant and sometimes life-threatening injuries. CT is considered the standard examination to delineate intra-abdominal trauma, with a reported sensitivity of 60%-88% and a specificity of 97%-99%. Moreover, CT helps in grading some types of injury and helps guide the surgical treatment course. It is important for radiologists who perform imaging in adults and children to be aware of the significance of direct handlebar injuries and their imaging findings. ^©RSNA, 2020.