CASE REPORTS   

Chirurgia 2013 December;26(6):443-5

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Under-evaluation of pelvic open book lesion on common table for CT scan

Aprato A., Arrigoni C., Crosio A., Massè A.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, San Luigi Hospital University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy

Scans for open book pelvic fracture are usually performed on a common CT table and the patient lies on a soft 5-cm buttress. This soft mattress has been designed to give a minimal discomfort for the patients during the exam but it does, even with minimal forces, carry the risk of closing the pelvis. The study reports two cases of under-evaluation of open book lesion in CT scan performed in a common soft bed. According to our results, although they are limited, the mattress of the standard CT scan bed exerts a closing force to the affected side of a B1 type lesion. This effect is more evident in patients with higher weight. The closing force could be a problem when patients present equivocal findings at physical examination. According to our opinion, CT scans for pelvic trauma should be done on the table without the mattress.