title: [Management of isolated sternum fracture: screening for heart contusion with troponin T].
abstract: In all of our reported cases a seat belt injury was the reason for the sternal fracture. Only 4 of 27 patients of this prospective study suffered from a heart contusion. None of our patients showed complications. An isolated sternal fracture with or without heart contusion seems to be of minor clinical significance. Referring to our patients a screening of a heart contusion with CKMB/CK activity and ECG seems to be sufficient when the trauma is not older than 12 hours. The longer persisting plasma concentrations of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) enables a diagnosis of a heart contusion even after a few days.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinik für Anästhesie, Innsbruck.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gabl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003288:Contusions / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000009:adverse effects; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries*; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood*; D020107:Troponin T; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014336:Troponin; D020107:Troponin T