SCT for the evaluation of trauma patients reveals a significant number of incidental findings. These lesions are common in the abdomen and pelvis and show an increased incidence in women and among older patients. Although many require early follow-up and specialty physician referral, there was insufficient documentation of the management of these injuries. Incidental findings in the injured remain a significant challenge for trauma centers. An organized approach is required for successful follow-up and management.

Major trauma in adolescents is associated with significant and marked deficits in long-term QoL outcomes, compared with U.S. norms for healthy adolescents. Early identification and treatment of risk factors for poor long-term QoL outcomes must become an integral component of trauma care in mature trauma care systems.

SCT is a more rapid and sensitive modality for evaluating the spine compared with PFR and is obtained at a similar cost. The advantages of SCT suggest that this readily available diagnostic modality may replace PFR as the standard of care for the initial evaluation of the spine in trauma patients.