Analysis of radiation exposure in trauma patients at a level I trauma center.

Background: Trauma patients are exposed to potentially high levels of low-dose radiation during radiologic studies.

Objectives: To assess the cumulative effective dose (CED) of radiation exposure (RE) in 177 successive patients admitted to a trauma service from January 1 through February 28, 2006.

Results: Patients received a total of 1505 radiographs and 400 computed tomography (CT) scans in the study period.

Radiation trends in trauma patients.

Today, computed tomography (CT) and other studies are used more often early in a trauma case than X-rays, exposing patients to more radiation. The long-term effects of radiation exposure (RE) in trauma patients are of great concern. Investigators randomly selected 60 patients (injury severity scores 15-25) each from the years 2000, 2003, and 2006.