Question

A 57-year old male arrives in the emergency department after falling off a ladder at a construction site. The emergency room physician has ordered a CT of the head, chest x-ray, cervical spine x-ray, shoulder x-ray, and femur x-ray. Which of the following procedures should be the first procedure to be completed?

1) AP chest
2) AP femur
3) AP cervical spine
4) Lateral cervical spine

Answer 1

The first procedure that should be completed is the AP chest. A chest x-ray would be the most appropriate initial procedure as it can help identify any potential life-threatening injuries to the chest, such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, or rib fractures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first procedure that should be completed is the AP chest.

In the given scenario, the patient is a 57-year-old male who fell off a ladder at a construction site. Due to the nature of the fall and potential injuries, it is important to prioritize the imaging procedures in a systematic way.

A chest x-ray would be the most appropriate initial procedure as it can help identify any potential life-threatening injuries to the chest, such as pneumothorax (collapsed lung), hemothorax (blood in the chest cavity), or rib fractures. These injuries can have serious implications on the patient's breathing and overall stability.