Comparison of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) and CT scan in the diagnosis of rib fractures in patients with chest trauma referred to the emergency department

Abstract

Considering that in recent years the need for available methods to diagnose trauma injuries and the high cost of CT scan imaging along with the dangers of radiation has been discussed and given that the use studies Chest ultrasonography has been suggested instead of radiation imaging in the diagnosis of rib fractures because ultrasonography can distinguish between traumatic fractures from pathological findings. In this study, we decided to design a study in which Comparison of ultrasound-focused assessment (FAST) with CT scan in the evaluation of rib fractures. Methods: In this study, CT scan was used as the gold standard of diagnosis. All patients who required chest CT scan according to ATLS criteria were included in the study. Patients with chest trauma after initial evaluation by a specialist or emergency medicine resident if they have a chest CT indication according to the indications and references of emergency medicine and have inclusion criteria, first under a chest ultrasound to diagnose fracture The ribs were placed by an emergency medicine specialist and then chest CT patients were performed. Thus, the results obtained from chest ultrasound were compared with the results obtained by CT scan, which is our standard diagnostic gold. Results: In this study, the majority of patients (83%) had a mean age of 49.80 20 20.31, of which 63 (63%) were due to vehicle accidents and 37 (37%) were due to falling from a height in the area. The chest was traumatized. In this study, the sensitivity of ultrasound in the diagnosis of rib fracture was 65.2% and the specificity of ultrasound in the diagnosis of fracture was 100%. Also, the positive predictive value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of rib fracture was 100% and the negative predictive value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of fracture was 59.6%.