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.