EVALUATING AND COMPARING THE DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF ULTRASOUND PLUS CHEST XRAY VERSUS CHEST XRAY ALONE FOR TRAUMATIC RIB FRACTURES IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS

Rib fractures are a common injury following blunt chest trauma and are associated with significant morbidity. Chest X-ray (CXR), the initial imaging modality in the emergency department (ED), has limited sensitivity for detecting rib fractures, particularly non-displaced and occult fractures. Bedside ultrasound is a rapid, radiation-free tool that may improve diagnostic accuracy when used as an adjunct to CXR. This study aims to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound combined with chest X-ray versus chest X-ray alone for detecting traumatic rib fractures in ED patients. The findings may help establish ultrasound as a routine adjunct imaging modality in ED trauma evaluation, enabling earlier diagnosis and improved patient management.