Author: Ikechukwuka Ifeanyichukwu ALIOKE

Manuscript ID: AFMJ-Aug-2024-70890 Date Published: 2025-06-19 14:52:13

Background:

With multiple attempts to ascertain the most prognostic trauma score for blunt chest trauma (BCT), the Chest Trauma Score (CTS) was validated among Caucasians. We sought to characterize and assess the prognostic value of CTS among patients managed for BCT in our environment.

Methods:

The characteristics, CTSs and treatment outcome were assessed for 26 patients who presented to ABUTH Zaria from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 with isolated BCT.

Results:

Most patients were in their 4th decade and the older age groups had significantly higher CTSs. There were no admissions to the intensive care unit, mechanically ventilated patients, nor mortality. The number of ribs fractured correlated with the length of hospital stay (LOHS) (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.430, p-value = 0.028) and with the presence of significant pleural collection (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.498, p-value = 0.01). The CTSs and presence of pulmonary contusion did not correlate with the LOHS (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.283, p-value = 0.161; Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.248, p-value = 0.221 respectively). However, the presence of significant pleural collection correlated significantly with the LOHS (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.671, p-value = <0.001).

Conclusion:

The CTS and presence of pulmonary contusion did not correlate with the length of hospital stay in our environment. In as much as the CTS had been validated in Caucasians, it probably has limited applicability as a prognostic scoring system in our environment possibly due to the non-readily-available CT scan for proper assessment of pulmonary contusion.

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