Abdominal injuries may not require a CT scan

A recent study indicates that not all children who suffer from injuries or trauma in the abdomen need a CT scan or a CT scan of the abdomen. Researchers from the Davis School of Medicine at the University of California said that if emergency physicians evaluate seven factors when facing cases of children who have this type of injury, they can protect them from unnecessary exposure to radiation, which can increase the risk of cancer in later stages. Of their lives.

The study included more than 12,000 children from several parts of the United States, who were treated in emergency departments due to abdominal trauma with blunt tools. Using statistical analysis, the scientists identified factors that were associated with the risk of severe injuries and required surgical intervention.

When evaluating children who have abdominal injuries, such as those caused by traffic accidents, falls, or abuse, researchers suggest that emergency doctors look for evidence of trauma to the abdomen or chest (such as a seat belt mark), nerve changes, and pain Or tenderness in the abdomen, abnormal sounds upon breathing and vomiting.

The researchers found that children who did not have any of these factors were less likely to need a CT scan - 0.1 per cent. In most of these cases, the researchers added, the CT scan likely did not provide additional useful information. This makes exposing the child to unnecessary radiation unjustified.

Lead researcher and author of the study James Holmes, professor of emergency medicine at UC Davis College of Medicine, said: “CT imaging is not without risk of human exposure to radiation, especially for children. We have obtained results indicating that large numbers of them are exposed to this risk from Without a benefit or a necessary need for it, which necessitates a call to avoid such a procedure due to its negative consequences that are more evident in children than in adults.

The study authors noted that the seven factors that they distinguished could help doctors exclude CT imaging, but the presence of one or more factors does not necessarily require this examination. They also indicated the importance of doctors referring to their assessments, the results of laboratory tests, and long periods of observation for each case separately when determining the need for such a procedure....