Using Ultrasound to Diagnose Chest Injuries in Children

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Pediatric Thoracic Trauma: A Multi-Institutional Trial

Observational Sutter Health · NCT05025150

This study tests if using ultrasound can help doctors quickly and accurately find chest injuries in children who come to the emergency room.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment1020 (estimated)
Ages0 Years to 21 Years
SexAll
SponsorSutter Health Academic / other
Locations1 site (Sacramento, California)
Trial IDNCT05025150 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in diagnosing traumatic thoracic injuries in children aged 0-21 years. It is a multicenter, observational study where the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS will be compared to traditional imaging methods such as chest X-ray, CT, and MRI. The study aims to determine how accurately POCUS can identify conditions like pneumothorax, hemothorax, and rib fractures in pediatric patients presenting to emergency departments with suspected thoracic injuries.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 0 to 21 years who present to emergency departments with suspected traumatic thoracic injuries.

Not a fit: Patients with congenital or acquired conditions that affect the effectiveness of ultrasound or those under law-enforcement custody may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses of chest injuries in children, potentially improving patient outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results for the use of ultrasound in diagnosing thoracic injuries, suggesting that this approach may be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Eligible subjects will be children 0 to 21 years of age presenting to the participating PEDs meeting trauma activation criteria and with suspected thoracic injury.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Congenital or acquired cardiopulmonary or osteogenic conditions rendering POCUS ineffective, foreign body/ barrier to lung ultrasound of which removal is contraindicated, subjects under law-enforcement custody, and subjects deemed unsuitable by treating clinicians.

Where this trial is running

Sacramento, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Trauma ChestPediatric ALLUltrasonography
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.