The Frequency of Utilization of X-Rays in Emergency Department of King Talal Military Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency department in any hospital is the first line to treat with patients who have emergent conditions including car accidents, falling cases, cases of conflicting assaults, etc. X-ray is requested to examine various health conditions including bones, lungs, etc. Study objectives: To identify the frequency of requesting X-rays in Emergency Department of King Talal Military Hospital, and to investigate the patterns of X-rays, and clinical significance. Methods and patients: Study design: A retrospective design was selected to collect data from files of patients who visited the emergency department of King Talal Military Hospital, and were requested for X-rays. Study sample: A total of 200 files of those patients were reviewed. X-rays were classified according to cases requested. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Data were presented as frequencies and percentages. Study results: The results revealed that the majority of participants were males (61%), and were older than 31 years (62%). The request of X-ray was for initial diagnosis (73.5%). Results also showed that 7.5% of X-ray request was for head, 10.5% for abdominal area, 22.5% for lower limits, 27.5% for backbone, and 32.5% for upper limits. The most requests for X-ray were for fractures, followed by lung problems, abdominal problems, and renal problems. Conclusion: The present study confirmed the importance of utilizing X-rays in emergency department to help in appropriate management of clinical status of patients at an early stage.