Introduction: Trauma surgeons at our institution routinely request reformatted images of the thoracolumbar spine from CT examinations of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis.The objective of the study was to assess the utility of reformatted images of the thoracolumbar spine in identifying additional trauma not seen on initial body CT imaging.
Methods: Over a period of one year,approximately 600 trauma body CT exams were pooled for analysis. To date, a total of 273 trauma body CT exams have been reviewed. Of these, 96 studies had dedicated reformatted images of the thoracolumbar spine which were usually interpreted by a radiologist other than the reader of the body study.
Results: Of the 96 reconstructed images of the spine, additional or alternate findings were seen in 23 cases. None of these findings altered or had the potential to alter clinical management.
Conclusions: Initial data suggests that reformatted images of the thoracolumbar spine obtained from trauma body CT exams yield no additional clinically significant information.
Patient Care: Timely diagnosis of acute abnormalities of the thoracolumbar spine in trauma will lead to timely, potentially lifesaving surgical management.
Learning Objectives: Acute trauma findings of the thoracolumbar spine can be accurately and timely diagnosed from routine CT of the abdomen and pelvis obviating the need for reconstruction protocols. This has the potential for cost and time savings.