Diagnostic tools used in patients suspected by emergency or front-line physicians of having sternal fractures
| DIAGNOSTIC TOOL | PRESCRIBED, N (%) | POSITIVE RESULTS FOR MYOCARDIAL CONTUSION ACCORDING TO SPECIALIST,* N (%) |
|---|---|---|
| X-ray scan of sternum | 54 (100)† | 38 (70) |
| X-ray scan of lung | 49 (91) | 9 (18)‡ |
| Computed tomography scan of thorax | 5 (9) | 5 (100) |
| Cardiac ultrasound scan | 4 (7) | 0 (0) |
↵* Interpretation by cardiologists for cardiac ultrasound scans and by radiologists for other tests.
↵† 16 sternal x-ray scans (30%) of patients suspected by emergency or front-line physicians of having sternal fractures were interpreted as having negative results for myocardial contusion by the radiologist.
↵‡ Results: 3 cases of mediastinal hematoma, 3 cases of multiple rib fracture, 1 fracture of the sixth dorsal vertebra, 1 case of pulmonary contusion, and 1 case of sternoclavicular dislocation.