Emergency radiology
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Emergency radiology · Feb 2004
Role of routine nonenhanced head computed tomography scan in excluding orbital, maxillary, or zygomatic fractures secondary to blunt head trauma.
The purpose of this paper is to determine the necessity of a dedicated facial bone/orbital computed tomography (CT) scan for fracture surveillance in patients who have suffered blunt head trauma and whose routine nonenhanced head CT scan is negative. It is based on a retrospective review of 115 patients presenting to the Emergency Department at a level I trauma center after blunt head trauma. Included patients underwent both a nonenhanced head CT scan and a dedicated facial bone or orbit CT. ⋯ The sensitivity and negative predictive values of a negative routine nonenhanced head CT scan for fracture surveillance are both 100%. In the setting of blunt trauma, a negative nonenhanced head CT scan precludes the need for a dedicated facial bone or orbital CT scan in the evaluation for orbital, maxillary, or zygomatic fractures. This saves the patient unnecessary radiation exposure, health care costs, and time spent in the emergency radiology department.
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In a patient with acute orbital trauma, visual acuity and extraocular muscle motility are the two most important ophthalmologic functions to be evaluated emergently. The assessment of these capabilities may sometimes be difficult due to the severity of the head injury, the extent of periorbital soft tissue edema, inadequate cooperation in alert patients, and a reduced level of consciousness in obtunded individuals. Consequently, computed tomography (CT) has come to play a major role in the orbital examination of acute trauma patients. ⋯ Six patients with decreased extraocular muscle activity had no abnormalities demonstrated on CT images. The overwhelming majority of patients with decreased visual acuity or reduced extraocular muscle motility consequent to trauma had abnormalities demonstrated by orbital CT. Hence, CT examinations should play a major role in the evaluation of the intraorbital contents in patients with orbital trauma.
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Emergency radiology · Feb 2004
Isolated severe renal injuries after minimal blunt trauma to the upper abdomen and flank: CT findings.
Renal injuries caused by blunt abdominal trauma are common in children. Serious renal trauma is associated with insult to other organs, whereas isolated renal injuries are usually minor. We present the cases of six male children (aged 7-17 years) with major isolated renal injuries due to minimal blunt trauma to the upper adbomen and/or the flank, out of a total of 21 children admitted with renal trauma in a 5-years period. ⋯ Four children underwent nephrectomy. This small series underlines that major kidney insult can occur after a minimal blunt trauma localized to the flank or upper abdomen. Abdominal CT should be performed when clinical or laboratory findings or the mechanism of trauma suggest renal injury.
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Emergency radiology · Feb 2004
Optimal patient position for lumbar puncture, measured by ultrasonography.
The purpose of this study was to identify the patient position for lumbar puncture associated with the widest interspinous distance utilizing ultrasound. Sixteen healthy adult volunteers were placed in three positions commonly used for lumbar puncture (lateral recumbent with knees to chest, sitting and bent forward over an adjustable bedside stand, and sitting with feet supported and chest to knees) and the distance between lumbar spinous processes was measured by ultrasound. Measurements were compared between the three positions. ⋯ The results showed that the interspinous distance was significantly greater in the "sitting, feet supported" position than in the other two positions ( P<0.001). The "sitting, feet supported" position may offer advantages for selected patients undergoing lumbar puncture. Ultrasonography may be a useful adjunct when performing lumbar puncture in the emergency department.
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Emergency radiology · Feb 2004
Case ReportsCT presentation of ruptured appendicitis in an adult with incomplete intestinal malrotation.
Intestinal malrotation is defined anatomically as a developmental anomaly. It may cause atypical clinical symptoms in relatively common intestinal disorders because of the altered anatomy. ⋯ Underlying incomplete malrotation prevented the correct clinical diagnosis of ruptured appendicitis. Computer tomography demonstrated typical signs of malrotation, i.e., right-sided duodenojejunal junction, left position of cecum, inverted position of the superior mesenteric vessels, and pathology revealed a ruptured appendix with an abscess and a coincident mucinous cystadenoma.