The use of ultrasound in the detection of sternum and rib fractures in thoracic trauma patients admitted to the emergency department and comparison with the tomography

Trauma is the leading cause of death in the first four decates. Thoracic trauma is the cause of 25% death directly and other 25% concomitantly. Although computerized tomography is an effective method which provides rapid results in trauma patients, the use of bedside ultrasonography in emergency departments provides a fast and reliable diagnosis . In our study, we aimed to compare the efficacy rib and sternal fractures suspected by bedside ultrasonography and computerized tomography in thoracic trauma patients In this study, 100 patients with thoracic trauma from trauma patients who applied emergency services between October 2015 and June 2016 were included in this study prospectively. All patients were evaluated in emergency department and their demographical features, vital signs, trauma patterns, additional trauma, physical examination and findings, treatment modalities, sonographic findings and tomography results were examined at the time of admission. Of the 100 patients we studied, 68 (68%) were male and 32 (32%) were female. The average age of our patients was 43.84+19.77, the average age of our male patients was 42.75+19.69, and the average age of our female patients was 46.16+20.05. 87% of our patients were alive and 13% lost their lives. In conclusion, ultrasonography and computerized tomography of suspected fractured patients were compared, computerized tomography has been shown to be better for detecting fractures than ultrasonography.