• Ray-Jade Chen, Chih-Yuan Fu, Shih-Chi Wu, Yu-Chun Wang, Ping-Kuei Chung, Hung-Chang Huang, Jui-Chien Huang, and Chih-Wei Lu.
• Trauma and Emergency Surgery Department, Trauma and Emergency Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. rayjchen@mail.cmuh.org.tw
• J Trauma. 2010 Oct 1;69(4):826-30.

BackgroundLodox/Statscan is a new digital X-ray machine with a low dose of radiation exposure that provides rapid, whole-body scans. In the setting of acute trauma management, the importance of image study is well recognized. Here, we report the accuracy of diagnoses made using Lodox/Statscan in patients with multiple injuries. We analyze the cost effectiveness, biohazard safety, and detection rate for treatment using the Lodox/Statscan and evaluate whether it is a viable alternative to the conventional trauma X-ray.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who received a Lodox/Statscan between November 2007 and January 2009. All patients who had received both a Lodox/Statscan and a computed tomographic (CT) scan were enrolled. The CT scan was used to make the final diagnosis. The detection rate for treatment, sensitivity, and specificity of the Lodox/Statscan in diagnosis was analyzed.ResultsOne hundred eighty-four patients were eligible for the study during the 15-month study period. The detection rates for treatment using the Lodox/Statscan for pneumothorax, pelvic fracture, cervical spine injury, and thoracic-lumbar spine injury were 95%, 96.0%, and 57.1%, and 100%, respectively.ConclusionIn our series, the Lodox/Statscan provided similar quality images and conventional series to the CT scans. Although the Lodox/Statscan missed some injuries, most of the subsequent treatments were not changed. Overall, there were several advantages to using this system, including the short interval of study, low-radiation exposure, and low cost. The Lodox/Statscan could therefore be used as an alternative to the traditional trauma X-ray for evaluation of acute trauma patients.

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