Management of Blunt Chest Trauma

Surg Clin North Am. 2024 Apr;104(2):343-354. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2023.09.007. Epub 2023 Oct 29.ABSTRACTCommon mechanisms of blunt thoracic injury include motor vehicle collisions and falls. Chest wall injuries include rib fractures and sternal fractures; treatment involves supportive care, multimodal analgesia, and pulmonary toilet. Pneumothorax, hemothorax, and pulmonary contusions are also common and may be managed expectantly or with tube thoracostomy as indicated. Surgical treatment may be considered in select cases. Less common injury patterns include blunt trauma to the tracheobronchial tree, esophagus, diaphragm, heart, or aorta. Operative intervention is more often required to address these injuries.PMID:38453306 | DOI:10.1016/j.suc.2023.09.007
Source: The Surgical Clinics of North America - Category: Surgery Authors: Source Type: research