title: [Major thoracic trauma--sternal trauma].
abstract: From 1999 to 2003, 101 patients (M/F = 83/18, mean age = 46 +/- 18 y) with thoracic trauma have been admitted to the Center for Thoracic Surgery in Varese. Over 50% of pts. with major thoracic trauma were treated by chest tube drainage; however, surgery was necessary just in 16/101 pts.; 29 pts. were admitted to ICU; deaths were 3/101. The Authors recorded 23/101 sternal fractures. Routine blood test, chest radiography and EKG were performed in all patients; in case of abnormal EKG, echocardiography was performed; in case of widened mediastinum, chest CT was mandatory. 13/23 pts. showed associated injuries, 12 pts. a non-aligned sternal fracture, 7 pts. mediastinal hematoma. Simple observation in hospital was indicated in 15/23 pts. with sternal fractures; chest tubes were positioned in 3 pts. (hemopneumothorax) and one patient was surgically treated because of painful sternal pseudoarthrosis (2 months after trauma). Admission in ICU was necessary in 3 pts. with non-aligned sternal fracture, mediastinal hematoma and associated injuries. No patient with sternal fracture died.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgia Generale ad Indirizzo Toracico, Università dell'Insubria, Ospedale di Circolo di Varese, Viale Borri, 57, 21100 Varese. dom@skylink.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dominioni
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berizzi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imperatori
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rovera
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carcano
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries*