Thoracic point-of-care ultrasound is an accurate diagnostic modality for clinically significant traumatic pneumothorax.

Objective: There are conflicting data regarding the accuracy of thoracic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in detecting traumatic pneumothorax (PTX). The purpose of our study was to determine the accuracy of thoracic POCUS performed by emergency physicians for the detection of clinically significant PTX in blunt and penetrating trauma patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective institutional review board-approved study of trauma patients 15 years or older presenting to our urban Level I academic trauma center from December 2021 to June 2022.