What is chest trauma?
A chest trauma or thoracic trauma is a serious injury to the thorax. These can affect several areas including:
- The bony wall of the chest
- The lungs
- The pleura
- The diaphragm
- The contents of the mediastinum
Trauma to the chest can be divided into penetrating and blunt. Specific forms of trauma include:
- Chest wall injuries: contusions or hematomas, rib fractures, sternal fractures, clavicle fractures, and unstable thorax.
- Pulmonary injury: pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, pulmonary laceration, hemothorax or hemo-neuomothorax.
- Cardiac or blood vessel injury: thoracic aortic injury, myocardial contusion or cardiac tamponade.
- Diaphragm injury.
- Esophageal injury.
- Damage to the respiratory tract.
- Injuries to other trunk structures.
Prognosis of the disease
A chest trauma is a serious injury that in many cases causes disability or even death. In fact, it is, among the different physical traumas, the leading cause of mortality after head trauma and spinal cord injuries.
It is important to receive prompt medical attention and treatment to avoid serious consequences. This is because of the potential anatomical and functional injuries to the ribs and soft tissues, including the lung, heart or large blood vessels.
The lungs may be affected in chest trauma.
Symptoms of chest trauma
Symptoms will vary depending on the structures or organs affected. There are some recurring symptoms in all chest trauma that may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid and shallow breathing
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Dizziness
In penetrating trauma we find the presence of bleeding as a consequence of the wound. In case of trauma involving the heart or large vessels (circulatory system), symptoms such as heart failure, hypotension, arrhythmias, shock, etc. may appear.
Medical tests for thoracic trauma
The diagnosis for a chest trauma consists of a specialist’s evaluation of the symptoms and signs of the physical examination, in addition to assessing the clinical history.
It is important to perform various complementary tests, as they help to determine the extent and consequences of the injury. Some of them are:
- Chest X-ray
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram
- Thoracic magnetic resonance
- Thoracic CAT scan
- Arterial blood gas analysis
- Blood tests
What are the causes of a thoracic trauma?
Thoracic trauma can be caused by any impact on the thorax. Depending on the type of injury, they are divided into two main groups:
- Blunt chest trauma: these can be caused by a blow or contusion, a fall from a great height, an assault, a car accident (the most common reason), etc.
- Penetrating thoracic trauma: caused by a knife, a bullet, fragments of explosions or any object accidentally introduced into the thorax.
Can it be prevented?
To prevent chest trauma, it is important to avoid the risks that can lead to accidents that result in this type of injury.
The appropriate safety measures should be followed in each type of activity, whether it is a lucrative or occupational activity. It is especially important to always wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle.
Treatments for thoracic traumatism
Eighty percent of chest injuries can be treated non-surgically, but the remaining 15 to 20% will require surgical treatment.
These interventions can be of great difficulty, due to the complications that may arise from injuries to vital structures present in the thorax. Support will also be provided with intravenous fluids and medications, which will ensure the functioning of vital organs and maintain vital signs.
What specialist treats it?
A thoracic trauma must be treated by a specialist in thoracic surgery. In Top Doctors’ medical directory you will find the specialist who best suits the needs of each patient.