Title: Sensitivity of plain pelvis radiography in children with blunt torso trauma<br/>Author: Brian Corwell<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/294/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
Plain films are commonly used to screen children for pelvic fractures or dislocations following blunt torso trauma</p>
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The sensitivity of this common screening practice is unknown</p>
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A recent study looked at this question.</p>
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Of 451 patients with pelvic fractures or dislocations, 382 had AP radiographs. Injury was correctly identified in 297 patients (sensitivity 78%).</p>
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The sensitivity was greater in the sicker subgroups :92% for those requiring operative intervention and 82% for those with hypotension</p>
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Plain AP pelvic radiographs should have a limited role in the sole evaluation of children with blunt torso trauma.</p>
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They should be incorporated in the assessment of hemodynamically unstable children and those in whom the clinician is not planning on otherwise obtaining an abdominal/pelvis CT.</p>
<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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Kwok et al., 2015 Annals of Emergency Medicine</p>
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