title: Associated injuries in patients with blunt chest trauma: detection by abdominal roentgenograms after aortography.
abstract: To determine the value of abdominal roentgenograms after aortography for detecting additional organ injuries, we retrospectively evaluated the abdominal and pelvic roentgenograms after aortography of 170 trauma patients who underwent arch aortography to detect aortic rupture. In 160 (94%) of 170 patients, the results of arch studies were normal. Ten (6%) of 170 patients had aortic rupture (8 patients) or rupture of a major vessel (2 patients). Thirty-one (18%) of 170 patients had associated injuries demonstrated by the roentgenograms taken after aortography, including pelvic or femoral fractures (13%), pelvic hematomas (5.8%), renal injuries (1.1%), and bladder ruptures (2.9%). We conclude that abdominal and pelvic pain roentgenograms should be part of a routine arch aortography performed for blunt chest trauma to detect additional organ injuries that frequently accompany injuries from motor vehicle crashes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001027:Aortography; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*