Objectives 
• Define trauma, triage, and emergency medicine 
• Discuss the economics of providing trauma care 
• Explain the role of medical imaging in emergency medicine 
•List the minimum requirements to perform trauma imaging. 
• List clinical symptoms used to evaluate trauma patients by radiographers prior to imaging. 
• List physical signs indicating fracture. 
• Explain what is meant by trimodal death from trauma. 
• Discuss what external factors contribute to accidents and trauma.
•Explain what is meant by the golden hour. 
• List what imaging exams are usually ordered for severe trauma and why they are ordered. 
• List causative factors of death or serious injury that occurs in the radiology department. 
• Discuss the role of portable radiography in trauma imaging. 
• List image evaluation criteria for chest radiographs 
• List image evaluation criteria for abdominal radiographs. 
• Describe what the physician wants to see on a chest radiograph and why. 
•Describe alternative positioning and exposure techniques that may be required when radiographing trauma. 
• Describe what a physician wants to see on an abdominal radiograph and why. 
• Explain why at least two views are required for imaging fractures. 
• Discuss what Salter-Harris guidelines have to do with pediatric imaging of bony trauma. 
• Explain the value of demonstrating fat pads in skeletal trauma. 
• Discuss why air/fluid levels need to be evaluated in trauma radiography. 
•Relate
why
a
“babygram”
is
not
acceptable
for
documenting
child
abuse.

• List
some
possible
injuries
that
occur
due
to
thoracic
trauma.

• Describe
imaging
techniques
used
to
evaluate
skeletal
trauma
to
the
appendicular
skeleton.

• Discuss
technique
changes
required
when
radiographing
pediatrics.

•Explain how to evaluate a radiograph for gross stability or instability of spinal fractures. 
• Explain the significance of the paraspinal stripe in evaluating thoracic spine trauma. 
• List radiographic clues of spinal fracture for the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine. 
• Explain the significance of the predental space being demonstrated on a lateral cervical spine. 
• Explain how prevertebral soft tissue can indicate a fracture in a lateral cervical spine radiograph.
•Discuss why a pelvis x-ray should be taken prior to a lateral cervical spine on a patient with multiple traumas. 
• Explain what signs a physician may see on a cervical spine radiograph series that indicate possible fracture. 
• Discuss why it is important to demonstrate the relationship between C1 and C2. 
• Relate why CT is considered superior to plain radiography for C spine trauma.
•Discuss the use of skull radiographs in trauma and significant signs that can be visualized with a skull radiograph. 
• Relate why CT has replaced plain films for skull radiography of trauma. 
• List the view that is most helpful in visualizing facial bone trauma. 
• Describe a “blowout” fracture and clinical signs that may indicate a blowout fracture. 
•Describe methods of demonstrating the zygomas, as they are involved in 2/3 of facial trauma. 
• Describe a LaForte fracture. 
• Explain why there are three oblique views to choose from when performing a mandible series for trauma radiography.