title: Radiation trends in trauma patients.
abstract: Today, computed tomography (CT) and other studies are used more often early in a trauma case than X-rays, exposing patients to more radiation. The long-term effects of radiation exposure (RE) in trauma patients are of great concern. Investigators randomly selected 60 patients (injury severity scores 15-25) each from the years 2000, 2003, and 2006. The cumulative effective dose (CED) was calculated from the RE of all X-rays and CTs performed during the patient's hospital stay. Total CED/patient increased from 15.97 (2000) to 16.67 (2003) to 23.27 mSv (2006); the increase from 2000 to 2006 was significant (P < 0.05). X-rays increased over the 6-year period from 9.6/patient (pt) to 11.4/pt to 15.4/pt. CT scans increased from 2.2/pt (15.19 mSv) to 3.5/pt (21.85 mSv, P < 0.05). The CED in children increased: 12.88 versus 13.17 versus 15.32 mSv/pt (P > 0.05). RE was 19.5 versus 22.0 versus 27.1 mSv in 16 to 45-year-olds compared with 15.5 versus 14.3 versus 27.0 mSv in older adults. Sixteen to 45-year-olds had significantly higher RE than children (P < 0.05). RE in the first hour and first 24 hours increased but not significantly (P > 0.05). CED increased from 2000 to 2006, due primarily from CT scans. Children had no significant CED increase during the same period and had lower RE than 16 to 45-year-old adults.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Services, The Toledo Hospital/Toledo Children's Hospital, Toledo, Ohio 43606-3895, USA.
authors.forename: Om P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Oswanski
authors.forename: Ramandeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sidhu
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krugh
authors.forename: Amy Sue
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Culler
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Stombaugh
authors.forename: Sherry K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D055815:Young Adult