Chest trauma

Chest trauma

1. CHEST TRAUMA

2. Cause of death in 20-25% of all trauma victims

3. TYPES BLUNT TRAUMA PENETRATING TRAUMA

4. Blunt- when body is struck by blunt object Eg - steering wheel The external injury may appear minor but the impact may cause severe life threatening internal injurues Contrecoup trauma may occur

5. Sternal and Rib Fractures Sternal fractures are most common in motor vehicle crashes with a direct blow to the sternum via the steering wheel 60% of patients admitted with blunt chest injury. The fifth through ninth ribs are the most common sites of fractures

6. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS severe pain, point tenderness, and muscle spasm over the area of the fracture, which is aggravated by coughing, deep breathing, and movement

7. Flail Chest It is frequently a complication of blunt chest trauma from a steering wheel injury It occurs when three or more adjacent ribs (multiple contiguous ribs) are fractured at two or more sites This results in free-floating rib segments

8. Pulmonary Contusion It is observed in about 20% of adult patients with multiple traumatic injuries It is defined as damage to the lung tissues resulting in hemorrhage and localized edema

9. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS tachypnea, tachycardia, pleuritic chest pain, hypoxemia, and blood-tinged secretions

10. MANAGEMENT maintaining the airway, Providing adequate oxygenation, and controlling pain . F luid intake must be closely monitored to avoid hypervolemia. Volume expansion techniques , postural drainage, physiotherapy including coughing , and endotracheal suctioning are used to remove the secretions

11. Penetrating trauma A foreign body pass through the body tissues Eg - gunshot wounds and stab wounds Management restore and maintain cardiopulmonary function