Beyond the Impact: Multidetector CT Assessment of Injury Patterns and Severity in Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Background: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) provides anatomical information for evaluating blunt abdominal trauma. This study assessed its utility in detecting intra-abdominal injuries, grading solid organ damage and informing management. Methods: A prospective observational study included 75 haemodynamically stable patients evaluated at Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital, Srikakulam, between November 2019 and May 2021. Contrast-enhanced MDCT findings were compared with clinical follow-up, repeat imaging when indicated and operative findings where available. Injury distributions and provisional management prediction statistics were analysed. Proportions were summarised using percentages, with confidence intervals calculated for selected diagnostic performance measures. Results: Male constituted 70.7% of patients. Intra-abdominal injury was identified in 50 patients (66.7%). Splenic, liver/biliary and renal injuries occurred in 37.3%, 30.7% and 22.7%, respectively. Among injury-positive patients, 40 (80.0%) had haemoperitoneum associated with solid organ injury and ten (20.0%) had isolated haemoperitoneum. Grade III injuries predominated in hepatic and splenic categories. Based on supplied classification counts, management prediction sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 76.92%, 98.39% and 94.67%, respectively. Surgical totals and organ grading were inconsistent. Conclusion: MDCT supported anatomical characterisation and management assessment in stable patients. Its findings required clinical correlation, and conflicting source counts required reconciliation before definitive interpretation of management prediction performance. Keywords: Blunt abdominal trauma, Haemoperitoneum, Multidetector computed tomography, Nonoperative management, Solid organ injury.