Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity of multi-slice computed tomography (MS-CT) in predicting the need to operate on spleen injuries in polytrauma patients using selected grading systems; the Thompson screening test (TST) and the extended TST (ETST).
Patients and methods: A retrospective evaluation of 2791 patients who presented spleen injuries in polytrauma MS-CTs in the period between 12/2002 and 06/2010 was undertaken. On the basis of CT morphology, and by using the above mentioned grading systems, the probability of the need to operate on a splenic injury was defined.
Results: From a sample of 2791 patients, an MS-CT polytrauma scan was used to identify 139 splenic injuries. In correlation with the actual interventions carried out on the spleen, the applied grading systems showed sensitivities of 91 % (TST) and 69 % (ETST) as well as specificities of 78 % (TST) and 93 % (ETST). Regarding interventions on a splenic injury, positive predictive values were 57 % (TST) and 76 % (ETST), and the accordant negative predictive values were 96 % (TST) and 91 % (ETST). Thereby we ascertained significantly lower results than Thompson et al.
Conclusion: The applied grading systems based on the findings of MS-CT do not reliably predict the need to operate on spleen injuries in polytrauma patients.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.