Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE RAD2212

 
TITLE Trauma, Emergency and Non-Ambulant: Imaging and Pathology

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Radiography

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will provide students with the knowledge, skills and competencies to perform imaging techniques in a trauma situation.

The following topics will be discussed:
- Care of the patient in a trauma setting;
- Adaptation of radiographic technique in trauma and emergency;
- Clinical application of Computerised Tomography (CT) in trauma and emergency;
- Clinical application of Ultrasound (US) in trauma and emergency; and
- Clinical applications of Nuclear Medicine (NM) in trauma and emergency.

Study-unit Aims:

The aims of this study-unit are to:
- Enable students to demonstrate an understanding of the needs of the patient in trauma;
- Enable students to adapt imaging techniques to the requirements of patients in a trauma setting;
- Facilitate understanding of the role of CT in trauma;
- Underpin the principles and role of US (FAST and eFAST) in trauma; and
- Identify the role of NM in cases of trauma where applicable.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Discuss the application of the various modalities used in imaging the musculosketetal system including clinical justification, optimisation and safety aspects;
- Critically assess the requirements of patients during imaging in trauma; and
- Discuss and compare the clinical applications and roles of planar x-ray imaging, CT, NM and US in trauma.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Justify requests related to imaging of trauma and non-ambulant patients;
- Discuss manipulation of imaging parameters for optimising imaging techniques;
- Apply radiation and other safety aspects when imaging patients;
- Explain the benefits and risks associated with imaging procedures;
- Adapt and optimise imaging techniques to the needs of the individual patient;
- Evaluate images and discuss the criteria for a good diagnostic image;
- Identify radiographic anatomy and explain the appearance of all relevant bony and soft tissue structures, positioning errors and artifacts on radiographic images, CT, NM, MRI and US;
- Identify pathologies and assess the need for further imaging or additional specialised imaging, based on these pathologies; and
- Analyse and solve problems that arise when performing imaging using appropriate guidelines and research evidence.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Ellis, H., Logan, B.M. & Dixon, A.K. (2009) Human Sectional Anatomy: Pocket Book of Body Sections, CT and MRI Images. (3rd edition). London: Hodder Arnold.
- Donovan, A., Schweitzer, M. (2012) Imaging musculoskeletal trauma.
- Toombs, M., Barry, D. (20100 Computed tomography in trauma.
- Zago, M. (2014) Essential US for trauma: E-Fast.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Trevor Abela Fiorentino
Karen Borg Grima
Konrad Borg
Pierre Demicoli
Victor Micallef
Natalino Carmelo Pennisi
Jonathan Loui Portelli

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit