DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING IN BLUNT ABDOMINAL TRAUMA: A STUDY OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND CT SCAN EFFECTIVENESS

Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is a common medical emergency that requires rapid and accurate diagnosis to guide treatment and minimize complications. Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in the evaluation of BAT, with ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) being the most widely used modalities. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of ultrasonography and CT scans in diagnosing blunt abdominal trauma, comparing their diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and ability to detect different types of injuries. A total of 100 patients with suspected BAT were enrolled in the study, undergoing both US and CT imaging. The results demonstrated that while ultrasonography is a quick, non-invasive, and cost-effective tool for initial assessment, it is limited in detecting certain injuries, particularly in obese patients or those with retroperitoneal injuries. On the other hand, CT scanning, although more expensive and requiring longer processing time, was found to have superior sensitivity and accuracy, effectively identifying a wider range of abdominal injuries, including those involving solid organs, bowel perforation, and retroperitoneal trauma. The findings suggest that ultrasonography remains an essential first-line diagnostic tool, particularly in hemodynamically unstable patients, while CT should be considered for further evaluation in stable patients to provide a comprehensive assessment of abdominal trauma.