Chest trauma

WikiDoc Resources for Chest trauma
Articles
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Media
Powerpoint slides on Chest trauma Images of Chest trauma Photos of Chest trauma Podcasts & MP3s on Chest trauma Videos on Chest trauma
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Chest trauma Bandolier on Chest trauma TRIP on Chest trauma
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Chest trauma at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Chest trauma Clinical Trials on Chest trauma at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Chest trauma NICE Guidance on Chest trauma NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Chest trauma CDC on Chest trauma
Books
Books on Chest trauma
News
Chest trauma in the news Be alerted to news on Chest trauma News trends on Chest trauma
Commentary
Blogs on Chest trauma
Definitions
Definitions of Chest trauma
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Chest trauma Discussion groups on Chest trauma Patient Handouts on Chest trauma Directions to Hospitals Treating Chest trauma Risk calculators and risk factors for Chest trauma
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Chest trauma Causes & Risk Factors for Chest trauma Diagnostic studies for Chest trauma Treatment of Chest trauma
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Chest trauma
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Business
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Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Chest trauma

Editor in Chief: Liudvikas Jagminas, M.D., FACEP [1] Phone: 401-729-2419

Overview

Chest trauma (or thoracic trauma) is a serious injury of the chest. Thoracic trauma is a common cause of significant disability and mortality. Thoracic injuries account for approximately 25% of all trauma-related deaths.

Classification

Chest trauma can be classified as blunt or penetrating. Blunt and penetrating injuries have different pathophysiologies and clinical courses. Most blunt injuries are managed with relatively simple interventions like intubation and mechanical ventilation and chest tube insertion. Diagnosis of blunt injuries may be more difficult and require additional investigations such as CT scanning. Penetrating injuries often require surgery, and complex investigations are usually not needed to come to a diagnosis. Patients with penetrating trauma may deteriorate rapidly, but may also recover much faster than patients with blunt injury.

Specific chest injuries

• Chest wall contusion / hematoma
• Rib fractures
• Flail chest
• Pneumothorax
• Hemothorax
• Hemopneumothorax
• Pericardial tamponade
• Myocardial contusion
• Sternal fractures
• Fractures of the clavicle and shoulder girdle
• Pulmonary injury
• Traumatic aortic rupture / Thoracic aorta injury
• Diaphragm injury
• Tracheobronchial tear
• Esophageal injury

References

• Bliss D, Silen M (2002). "Pediatric thoracic trauma". Crit Care Med. 30 (11 Suppl): S409–15. PMID 12528782.
• Feliciano DV, Rozycki GS (1999). "Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic trauma". Surg Clin North Am. 79 (6): 1417–29. PMID 10625986.
• Golden PA (2000). "Thoracic trauma". Orthop Nurs. 19 (5): 37–45, quiz 45-7. PMID 11153385.

External links

• Trauma.org: thoracic trauma