Referral of outpatients with non-traumatic conditions for radiographic examinations in an emergency department

The aim of the study was to evaluate the referral of outpatients with non-traumatic conditions for radiographic examinations and to assess the impact of the radiological report on the patientʼs management in an emergency department. In a prospectively designed study 1223 X-ray examinations of 1116 non-trauma outpatients (640 males, 476 females; mean age44 ± 18 years) requested over a 10-month period were evaluated. Patients were classified into four groups according to the presenting complaints (respiratory, abdominal, neurological or non-specific symptoms). Analysis of data included the influence of age and presenting symptoms on the likelihood of abnormal radiological findings and the impact of the radiological result on the further management of the patient. In 455 (40.8%) patients an abnormal radiological result was observed. The likelihood of an abnormal radiological finding increased with age (age 40 years47%; p