title: Diagnostic errors in polytrauma: a structured review of the recent literature.
abstract: Clinically important diagnostic errors are relatively common among polytrauma patients (2-40%). Errors are not random; they are more frequent in the spine and periarticular appendicular skeleton, especially in hemodynamically unstable patients who require resuscitation or operative intervention before completion of secondary or tertiary clinical survey. Misleading history, distracting findings, and misjudgments all contribute to risks of diagnostic errors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359728, Seattle, 98104-2499, USA.
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stanescu
authors.forename: Lee B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Talner
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors