The Value of Abdominal and Pelvic CT Scan in Trauma Patients With Low Injury Severity Score and High Glasgow Coma Scale.

This article evaluates the clinical value of abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans in trauma patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a high Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), low Injury Severity Score (ISS), and negative findings on physical examination and Focused Assessment of Sonography for Trauma (FAST). A retrospective analysis of 901 patients with level 2 and 3 trauma activation criteria found that 96% of patients with negative physical and FAST exams also had negative CT scans, while 4% had positive CT findings that did not require surgical intervention. The study concludes that routine CT imaging in this patient population does not provide additional critical information beyond clinical assessment and FAST, suggesting that selective imaging may reduce unnecessary radiation exposure and healthcare costs.