Keywords:
Thorax, Emergency, Trauma, CT, Diagnostic procedure
Authors:
I. Turkalj, K. Petrovic; Novi Sad/RS
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-0040
Conclusion
Blunt chest trauma is a significant problem affecting predominantly males in their forties and it is usually caused by motor vehicle accidents.
In more than 80% of cases it is associated with extrathoracic injuries,
predominantly injuries to extremities or pelvic bones,
followed by head injuries.
The widespread use of multidetector computerised tomography facilitates the diagnosis of clinically relevant injuries.
The existence of subcutaneous emphysema should always spark suspicion that a rib fracture exists.
In any case of pneumomediastinum,
especially in the abundant ones,
we advise the use of 3D reconstructions in search of a potential tracheobronchial and oesophageal injury.
The integrity of thoracic aorta must be evaluated in all the planes so as to exclude its contribution to mediastinal haemorrhage.
Increased resolution of CT scanners yielded a large number of findings that are occult on radiography,
especially in the event of lung parenchymal and pleural injuries.
However,
no imaging modality can replace surgical judgement.