[Bronchial rupture combined with luxation fracture of the thoracic spine following direct trauma].
Tracheobronchial injuries in blunt thoracic trauma are very rare (incidence: under 1%), with potentially devastating consequences. Appropriate pre-, intra-, and postoperative management is mandatory to ensure the patient's survival and maintain lung function. We report the case of a 62-year-old male patient hit by a tree over the chest while cutting down trees, suffering a rupture of the right bronchus and a tear of the trachea combined with a luxation fracture of the thoracic spine between Th2 and Th3 (without neurological deficit). With immediate suture of the torn bronchus and trachea and stabilization of the spine fracture on the following day, we achieved a successful outcome in this patient. To our knowledge, this is the first description in the literature of the combination of both injuries.
Weber
P
P
Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau.
Vastmans
J
J
Gärtner
C
C
van Boemmel
T
T
Hofmann
G O
GO
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001980:Bronchi / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D012421:Rupture; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013352:Subcutaneous Emphysema / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*