title: The digital rectal examination in pediatric trauma: a pilot study.
abstract: This pilot study examined the utility of a routinely performed digital rectal examination (DRE) in pediatric trauma patients. A prospective convenience sample of patients 0 to 18 years of age presenting to the pediatric emergency department of an urban level I trauma center with a history of trauma to the spine or trunk was enrolled. An abnormal DRE was defined by the presence of gross or occult blood, decreased sphincter tone, compromised integrity of the rectal vault, or a high riding prostate. We defined DRE-identifiable injuries as spinal injury, pelvic fracture, rectal or other lower intestinal injury, and urethral injury. One hundred thirty-five patients were studied; 8 patients had DRE-identifiable injuries. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of the physical examination with and without the DRE were equivalent. Routine performance of the digital rectal examination may not improve the identification of serious injury during the secondary survey in pediatric trauma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics (Division of Emergency Medicine), Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kristinsson
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Ellen F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Crain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D009780:Occult Blood; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000293:injuries