Seat belt-related chondrosternal disruption with lung herniation.
A case of blunt chest trauma resulting in anterior chondrosternal separation with right lung herniation and hemothorax is presented. The injury is related to the use of a seat belt restraint. The patient underwent surgical repair with polytetrafluoroethylene chest wall reconstruction. Postoperative recovery was complicated by respiratory insufficiency due to underlying pulmonary contusion and multiple rib fractures.
Rice
David
D
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. drice@mdanderson.org
Bikkasani
Naveen
N
Espada
Raphael
R
Mattox
Kenneth
K
Wall
Matthew
M
D002356:Cartilage / Q000293:injuries*; D006547:Hernia / Q000209:etiology; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery