The role of abdominal CT in the evaluation of stab wounds to the back. J Trauma 1989 Sep;29(9):1226-8; discussion 1228-30
Date
09/01/1989Pubmed ID
2769808DOI
10.1097/00005373-198909000-00007Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0024436644 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 40 CitationsAbstract
Two hundred five patients with stab wounds to the back were evaluated with CT scans using both oral and IV contrast material. One hundred sixty-nine patients had a negative scan. Thirty (17.8%) of the 169 patients were operated upon because of clinical concern. Injuries were found in two of these patients: a diaphragmatic injury in one and a combined diaphragmatic and liver injury in the other. None of the 139 patients observed developed any sequelae. Twenty of the 33 patients with a positive CT were taken to the operating room where 16 were found to have a significant injury. Seven of these 16 patients had additional injuries not identified on CT. There were four false positive scans. Thirteen patients with a positive scan and two patients with an equivocal scan were observed based upon clinical judgment. Ten of these 15 patients had minor isolated renal or hepatic injuries seen on scan. None of these developed complications. It is concluded that abdominal computed tomography, with a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 98%, and accuracy of 97% is a reliable study in the evaluation of patients with stab wounds to the back.
Author List
Meyer DM, Thal ER, Weigelt JA, Redman HCMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Abdominal InjuriesAdolescent
Adult
Aged
Back Injuries
Child
Diatrizoate Meglumine
False Positive Reactions
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Wounds, Stab
