Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for Diagnosis and Treatment of Fractures in the Costal Cartilage

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorSahlgrenska University Hospital

About this trial

The goal of this observational study is to learn if combining ultrasound and CT scans can better diagnose cartilage fractures in the ribs, and to understand how finding these injuries affects treatment decisions for patients with injuries to the Chest wall.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does using both ultrasound and CT scans find more costal cartilage fractures than CT scans alone? * Does discovering costal cartilage fractures change how patients are treated, such as whether more patients receive surgery or if different fractures are repaired? * How do costal cartilage fractures heal, and do they affect lung function, pain, or the risk of complications after surgery?

Patients with cartilage injuries will be followed up at 1, 3, and 12 months after their injury. They will be checked for pain, instability, and healing using ultrasound and sometimes CT scans. The study will also assess lung function, quality of life, and pain levels.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Trauma patients (≥18 years) treated at the Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, where CT has shown at least one recent injury to the chest wall.

Disqualifiers

Patients with injuries resulting from CPR, severe head injury, spinal injury, and neurological or musculoskeletal disease affecting chest mobility will be excluded.

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Not listed

Trial groups

100 Participants
are grouped into 1 trial group

Locations

This trial has no locations