CT Utilisation in Emergency Department (ED) Assessment of Patients With Suspected Polytrauma: Impact of a Dedicated Trauma Surgical Team

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to assess the impact of introduction of a dedicated trauma surgical unit (TSU) on CT utilisation for polytrauma in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: Single centre retrospective cohort study comparing adult patients undergoing CT for polytrauma following TSU introduction (Intervention group, n = 617) to a historical Baseline group (n = 257) over a matched time period. Patient impact, including initial clinical assessment, injuries, radiation exposure, incidental findings, ED disposition, and impact on radiology services were compared with Mann–Whitney and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Intervention patients were more likely to be examined by ED physicians (96.7% v..