Should we ditch the supine chest X ray in early trauma assessment?

Abstract

The supine chest X ray is a standard part of early trauma assessment protocols. It is used to rapidly identify potentially life threatening chest injuries. However, latest research shows that chest ultrasound has superior accuracy when compared to supine chest X ray for diagnosing most chest injuries. Is it time we allowed ultrasound to supersede supine chest X ray as the initial investigative modality of choice for the patient with thoracic trauma?