The use of whole-body trauma CT should be based on mechanism of injury: A risk analysis of 3920 patients at a tertiary trauma centre

•Mechanism of injury (MOI) plays a significant role in a decision to perform whole-body computed tomography (CT) imaging for trauma patients.•Various mechanisms have unique patterns of injury and therefore form an important variable in decision making.•Retrospective study of 3920 patients who received a whole-body CT scan at a level 1 trauma centre over 10 years.•High-energy injuries were independently associated with injury on CT, while low energy injuries were statistically protective of an injury.•In high energy trauma, we should consider the need for whole-body CT based on MOI alone regardless of the clinical examination findings.