The aim of this study was to develop a standardised spiral CT examination protocol including head, body and extremities to achieve good time efficiency and the diagnostic accuracy during initial radiological examination of polytraumatised patients. The precondition for this examination is circulatory stability of the patient. In instable patients the situation must be solved surgically without this examination. All 35 patients were examined according to a standardised CT protocol. After native examination of the head, the examination of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis was performed with administration of intravenous contrast medium (occasionally modified). All data in the medical report were completed and the outcome of the CT examination was compared with the final diagnosis. In total, 14 head injuries, 23 thoracic injuries, 17 abdominal and 20 pelvic injuries were examined, and 7 spinal fractures and 5 fractures of the extremities were found. The mean examination time was ca. 12 min. (range 8–15 min.). The spiral CT examination in comparison with the sequential CT examination is markedly quicker and its diagnostic accuracy is higher. For these reasons we recommend this examination as the method of choice for initial radiological examination in polytraumatised patients.

        Key words: polytrauma – CT examination – CT diagnosis – CT protocol