[Arterial vascular injury of the diaphragm caused by serial rib fracture].
About 10% of all trauma patients sustain rib fractures. The average age is 58. Men are more often affected than women. Hemothorax, pneumothorax, and lesions of the lung are not uncommon. Very rare are injuries of the pericardium, aorta, and subclavia caused by fractured ribs. We present a very unusual case where a broken rib caused a severe diaphragmatic hemorrhage with a hemothorax and acute hypovolemia. The primary chest X-ray was thought to be without pathology. Arterial bleeding without exact localization could be found with computed tomography. Thoracotomy revealed the correct diagnosis and the cause of bleeding.
Unfallkrankenhaus Graz der AUVA.
S
S
Jaros
H
H
Neugebauer
H
H
Pinter
K
K
Hudabiunigg
D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology*