From www.ctsnet.org
Hopefully your answer is no. Of note, it is also NOT indicated as a screening test for those in whom you suspect a blunt cardiac injury (BCI). It can be normal in the setting of arrhythmias and it can be falsely elevated in the setting of catecholamine release or reperfusion injury from hypovolemic shock.
The initial screening test should include an EKG and a FAST ultrasound exam. If you have abnormal EKG findings, then a troponin is warranted (in addition to hospital admission).
Below summarizes a suggested algorithm from the recent EM Clinics of North America publication series. Definitive statements are challenging because there is no gold standard to diagnose BCI.
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Reference
Bernardin B, Troquet JM. Initial management and resuscitation of severe chest trauma. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2012 May;30(2):377-400. Pubmed .
