title: Full-body x-ray imaging to facilitate triage: a potential aid in high-volume emergency departments.
abstract: The levels of traumatic injury seen in South African emergency departments (EDs) are epidemic. This is coupled with a severe lack of resources and adequately trained emergency staff. The Lodox Statscan (LS) is an X-ray scanner capable of producing rapid, low-dose, and full-body X-ray images. In this paper, a new trauma protocol-the Johannesburg trauma protocol-that implements LS scanning on entry to the ED as a triage tool is reported. A case study illustrating the use of LS to triage 63 patients in a single Saturday shift at a level 1 Trauma Centre is also presented. Because of the ability to rapidly and safely provide X-ray imaging information to support clinical decision making, the LS could be a useful tool to aid in resource allocation to improve treatment of the high levels of trauma patients that present to South African EDs daily.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa ; Lodox Systems, 7 Dartfield Road, Sandton, Johannesburg 2146, South Africa.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Whiley
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grace