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. 2011 Oct;4(4):443-5.
doi: 10.4103/0974-2700.86625.

Diagnostic accuracy of bedside emergency ultrasound screening for fractures in pediatric trauma patients

Tej P Sinha  1 , Sanjeev Bhoi, Sudeep Kumar, Radhakrishna Ramchandani, Ankur Goswami, Lalit Kurrey, Sagar Galwankar
Affiliations

Diagnostic accuracy of bedside emergency ultrasound screening for fractures in pediatric trauma patients

Tej P Sinha et al. J Emerg Trauma Shock. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Bedside ultrasound (BUS) can effectively identify fractures in the emergency department (ED).

Aim: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of BUS for fractures in pediatric trauma patients.

Setting and design: Prospective observational study conducted in the ED.

Material and methods: Pediatric patients with upper and lower limb injuries requiring radiological examination were included. BUS examinations were done by emergency physicians who had undergone a brief training. X-rays were reviewed for the presence of fracture and the results of BUS and radiography were compared.

Statistical analysis: STATA version 11 was used for statistical analysis of the data.

Results: Forty-one patients were enrolled in the study. The sensitivity of the BUS in detecting fracture was 89% [95% confidence interval (CI): 51% to 99%] and the specificity was 100% (95% CI: 87% to 100%). The positive predictive value of BUS was 100% and negative predictive value was 97%.

Conclusion: BUS can be utilized by emergency physicians after brief training to accurately identify long bone fractures in the pediatric age-group.

Keywords: Emergency department; fracture; pediatric; ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Longitudinal view showing cortical break
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transverse view showing cortical break
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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