Canadian Association of Radiologists Trauma Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guideline

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Clinical Guidelines

Background:

• The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) identified a need for standardized trauma evaluation guidelines.
• Existing guidelines were fragmented, necessitating a consolidated approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop evidence-based recommendations for the evaluation of traumatic injuries across various clinical scenarios.
• To create a comprehensive guideline for adult and pediatric emergency and trauma radiologists.

Main Methods:

• A systematic rapid scoping review was conducted to identify relevant referral guidelines.
• Recommendations from 49 existing guidelines were synthesized.
• The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) framework was utilized for contextualization.

Main Results:

• Fifty recommendation statements were developed for 21 distinct clinical/diagnostic scenarios.
• Recommendations cover a wide range of traumatic injuries, including head, spine, chest, and abdomen.
• Guidelines address specific areas like superficial soft tissue injury and non-accidental trauma.

Conclusions:

• The developed guideline provides a standardized framework for evaluating traumatic injuries.
• This resource aims to improve consistency and quality in trauma care decision-making.
• The guideline serves as a valuable tool for radiologists and emergency physicians involved in trauma management.