Best poster award: Accuracy of surgery residents' interpretation of computed tomography scans in trauma

Abstract 

Background

We evaluated the accuracy of surgery residents in interpreting computed axial tomography (CT) scans of trauma patients as compared with attending radiologists.

Methods

Residents listed injuries they identified on initial CT scans of trauma patients in a time-stamped computerized system before the official report becoming available. Head, chest, and abdomen/pelvis CT scans were included. We compared the accuracy of these reads with final radiology reports.

Results

There were 84 injuries in 31 patients. Residents correctly identified 25 of 26 (96%) injuries to the head, 28 of 42 (67%) chest injuries, and 15 of 16 (94%) injuries to the abdomen and pelvis. The accuracy of resident reads of chest CT scans was lower (P = .035) than for other body areas. Radiologists' identified 23 of 26 (89%) head injuries, 38 of 42 (90%) chest injuries, and 14 of 16 (88%) injuries in the abdomen and pelvis CT scans. None of the missed injuries were life threatening or required immediate attention.

Conclusions

Surgical residents accurately identify acute injuries on the CT scans of trauma victims.

Keyword: Surgical residency