Comparison of thoracic ultrasound, clinical acumen, and radiography in patients with minor chest injury

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to compare ultrasonography, clinical findings, and radiography in the detection of rib and sternal fractures. Methods: In a prospective study, 88 patients presenting consecutively to an emergency department with isolated blunt chest injury of mild to moderate force were recruited. Results: Ultrasonography yielded a sensitivity of 80.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 69.5-88.5) for detecting chest wall fractures compared with sensitivities of 26.0 (95% CI, 15.8-36.3) for clinical acumen and 23.7 (95% CI, 14.7-34.8) for radiography. Conclusions: Early ultrasonography is more accurate than clinical and radiologic evaluation at detecting rib and sternal fractures.