Myocardial contusion in the stable patient: what level of care is appropriate?

To evaluate the significance of myocardial contusion, we evaluated 243 stable patients hospitalized for blunt chest trauma between 1982 and 1986. The groups were identified according to results of radionuclide angiography, mean injury severity score (ISS), and outcome. Group I (n = 71; mean ISS = 12.