FastTrack Complete Report: Post-Trauma Evaluation

Table of Contents

1. Purpose & Use - Case type

2. X-RAY Signals to Be Assessed

A. Skeletal Injury

B. Abdominal Injury

C. Thoracic Injury

D. Soft Tissue Injury

E. Additional Findings – Thorax, Abdomen, and Musculoskeletal Regions

1. Purpose & Use

This FastTrack Complete Report is designed to assist with post-incident evaluation by identifying radiographic signs of injury that may require emergency intervention following a traumatic event. In addition to detecting internal trauma such as fractures, pneumothorax, hemothorax, or organ injury, the report also evaluates the thorax and abdomen for clinically significant findings that, while not directly related to the traumatic incident, may influence diagnostic interpretation, guide clinical management, and impact overall patient outcome.

Scenarios when to use this FastTrack Complete Report:

• Post-Trauma Evaluation:
  • Applicable to cases involving vehicular accidents, falls, penetrating, or blunt-force injuries, where trauma is suspected or confirmed.
• Emergency Assessment for Internal Injury:
  • Used in situations requiring rapid identification of internal injuries (e.g., fractures, pneumothorax, hemothorax, or organ rupture) that may necessitate urgent medical or surgical intervention.
• Monitoring for Complications:
  • For patients with known or suspected trauma, this report aids in monitoring for internal complications, particularly when prompt imaging interpretation is essential to guide immediate clinical decision-making.

Clinical Signs Checklist (when submitting):

This clinical signs checklist is designed to summarize key clinical signs associated with the presenting complaint. It serves as a quick reference tool for both observed and reported findings, supporting the accurate interpretation of radiographic results within the appropriate clinical context.

The checklist typically includes the following categories:

• Type of trauma
  • Blunt force trauma resulting from non-penetrating impact such as a vehicular accident, fall, or crush injury.
  • Penetrating trauma caused by sharp or penetrating objects, such as bite wounds, gunshot injuries, or stab wounds.
• Respiratory signs - in cases of traumatic rib fractures, pneumothorax, pulmonary contusions, diaphragmatic hernias etc
• Lameness - in cases of soft tissue injury, fractures and/or luxations etc
  • Forelimb
  • Hindlimb
• Pain – in cases of soft tissue injury, organ injury, fractures and/or luxations etc
  • Spine 
  • Limbs
  • Abdominal
  • Non-specific

2. X-RAY Signals to Be Assessed

The FastTrack Complete Report focuses on identifying radiographic findings most clinically relevant to the patient’s presenting signs, supporting timely and informed clinical decision-making. The following radiographic indicators are systematically evaluated to detect abnormalities that may warrant immediate clinical attention or further diagnostic investigation.

A. Skeletal Injury

1. Appendicular Bone Fracture
2. Pelvic Fracture
3. Rib Fracture(s)
4. Sacroiliac Luxation
5. Skull Fracture
6. Vertebral Fracture
7. Vertebral subluxation
8. Tail luxation
9. Hip Luxation
10. Joint Luxation

B. Intra-abdominal Injury

9. Abdominal Hernia
10. Peritoneal Gas
11. Limited Abdominal Detail

C. Intra-thoracic Injury

13. Pleural Gas
14. Pleural Effusion
15. Cranioventral Parenchymal Pattern
16. Caudodorsal Parenchymal Pattern
17. Mediastinal Gas
18. Diaphragmatic Hernia

D. Soft Tissue Injury

15. Subcutaneous Gas
16. Soft Tissue Swelling

E.  Additional Findings (Critical Radiographic Findings) based on submitted views.

Thorax

17. Thoracic Mass
18. Left Atrial Enlargement
19. General Cardiomegaly
20. Esophageal Foreign Body

Abdomen

21. Peritoneal Mass Effect
22. Mid Abdominal Mass

Musculoskeletal

23. Lytic and/or Blastic Bone Lesions