Rationality of using whole-body computed tomography in trauma patients

Purpose: Identification of the group of patients meeting the criteria of a severe multiple trauma (polytrauma) among those admitted to the regional trauma centre and subjected to whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) due to injuries. Identification the patients for whom WBCT was the optimal choice.

Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of the data of 303 patients undergoing WBCT in the period 2015-2017 with assessment of the injury severity based on the abbreviated injury scale (AIS) and injury severity score (ISS).

Results: Among 303 patients undergoing WBCT due to trauma, multiple injuries with ISS > 15 were found in 74 individuals (24.4%). After excluding patients whose limb fractures increased ISS above 15, the group decreased to 63 patients (20.8%). For these patients, the WBCT may be described as the optimal imaging method at an early stage of management.

Conclusions: Trauma patients are too often qualified for WBCT. Exposure to a high dose of ionising radiation associated with this modality requires critical analysis of the scope of indications and rules of conduct for trauma teams.