title: Blunt chest trauma.
abstract: The spectrum of injuries after blunt chest trauma presents a challenging problem to the emergency physician. The clinician must select among a number of diagnostic tests and therapeutic options after the initial history and physical examination has been performed. Nine clinical entities are discussed: sternal fracture, flail chest, pulmonary contusion, tracheobronchial injuries, myocardial contusion, myocardial rupture, aortic disruption, esophageal perforation, and diaphragm rupture. Emphasis is placed on newer diagnostic modalities available for these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jackimczyk
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries; D003288:Contusions / Q000175:diagnosis; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries; D005409:Flail Chest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D006549:Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury; D012421:Rupture; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis*