Comparison of conventional radiography and computed tomography in patients admitted to the emergency department with extremity trauma — a retrospective study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to compare conventional radiography (X-ray) and computed tomography (CT) on diagnosis, operation plan, and hospitalization of patients with isolated extremity trauma admitted to the emergency department (ED). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was designed retrospectively. Patients with trauma involving extremities presenting to a tertiary ED between January 2019 and 2020 for twelve months who underwent both extremity CT and X-ray imaging were included in the study. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and Kappa coefficients were calculated on the CT reports. RESULTS: A total of 1306 patients were included in the study. Extremity fractures were detected in 620 (47.6%) and 775 (59.3%) patients evaluated with X-ray, and CT scans respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the X-ray of all extremity fractures by anatomical region was evaluated. For the shoulder region compared with CT, X-ray had a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 98%, PPV 98%, and NPV 96% [AUC: 0.969, 95% CI 0.935 to 1.000) in