Patients exposed to sudden deceleration such as fall from height > 3m or motor vehicle collisions at > 65kph are at risk of blunt aortic injury (BAI) and may require CT aortogram.

There are no clinical signs or examination findings with sufficient sensitivity or specificity to detect BAI, thus CXR is important in assisting in risk management.

If blunt aortic injury goes undiagnosed, these patients generally sustain an aortic rupture within 24 hours.