title: [The management of blunt chest trauma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blunt chest trauma is a frequent injury and it can be difficult to evaluate its seriousness. The risk of acute decompensation because of an occult thoracic lesion is a significant and justified cause for concern.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  As is common in the case of trauma to the torso, few studies are available to guide the development of structured recommendations about the diagnosis and management of such injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors review the anatomical and physiological knowledge relevant to this kind of injury. They propose a standardized management for the diagnosis and emergency management of blunt chest trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management of blunt chest trauma should include a very systematic first evaluation to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and decrease the risk of subsequent respiratory failure.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie thoracique, hôpital d'Instruction des Armées A.-Laveran, Marseille cedex 13, France. avarojp@orange.fr
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Avaro
authors.forename: P-M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bonnet
mesh_terms: D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*