Rib spreader laceration: a confusing artifact of emergency thoracotomy.
During emergency thoracotomy, an artifactual injury complex consisting of laceration, abrasion, and, rarely, contusion may be formed by application of a surgical instrument called a rib spreader. Six cases demonstrating this confusing injury are presented, and its formation is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004332:Drowning / Q000473:pathology; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013405:Suicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology