Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Thorax, Trauma, Cardiac, CT-Angiography, Education
Authors:
J. Gajera, D. Varma; VIC/AU
DOI:
10.26044/ranzcr2019/R-0094
Background
Chest trauma is the third most common trauma type following trauma of head and extremities in polytrauma patients[1]. The presence of thoracic injuries in the setting of multisystem trauma may significantly increase patient morbidity and mortality[1,2]. The majority of blunt thoracic trauma in developed countries occurs from motor vehicle accidents, followed by falls and assault with a blunt object[1,2]. Imaging is not indicated until the airway, breathing and circulation have been stabilised. The initial chest radiograph provides information regarding immediately life-threatening conditions and to confirm device placement. Following a chest radiograph, the clinician must decide whether further imaging techniques should be performed. multidetector CT (MDCT) has the highest sensitivity in detecting injuries after thoracic trauma[3,4].
In this educational exhibit we review the radiographic and MDCT findings of several thoracic injuries diagnosed in traumatized patients.