Work

Rectal examination in patients with trauma has low sensitivity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Digital rectal exploration has been an obliged part of the systematic clinical evaluation of trauma patients. Patients can experience digital rectal exploration as unpleasant and offending, especially in a trauma setting. There are now several studies which show that digital rectal exploration has a very low sensitivity and rarely contributes to the diagnosis. In this manuscript, we review the indications and accuracy of rectal exploration in trauma patients and highlight the evidence that rectal exploration should only be performed selectively in trauma patients and not routinely.

Source: Ugeskrift for Læger

DOI: 10.61409/v01250024

Authors: Luit Penninga, Søren Steemann Rudolph, Allan Evald Nielsen, Upender Martin Singh, Emma Possfelt-Møller

Institutions: Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg University, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet

Language: English

Topic: Trauma and Emergency Care Studies

Subfield: Emergency Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W4414290679