title: Role of volume rendered 3-D computed tomography in conservative management of trauma-related thoracic injuries.
abstract: Pneumatic nail guns are a tool used commonly in the construction industry and are widely available. Accidental injuries from nail guns are common, and several cases of suicide using a nail gun have been reported. Computed tomographic (CT) imaging, together with echocardiography, has been shown to be the gold standard for investigation of these cases. We present a case of a 55-year-old man who presented to the accident and emergency unit of a community hospital following an accidental pneumatic nail gun injury to his thorax. Volume-rendered CT of the thorax allowed an accurate assessment of the thoracic injuries sustained by this patient. As there was no evidence of any acute life-threatening injury, a sternotomy was avoided and the patient was observed closely until discharge. In conclusion, volume-rendered 3-dimensional CT can greatly help in the decision to avoid an unnecessary sternotomy in patients with a thoracic nail gun injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cork University Hospital. Olearypeter83@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Donal Peter
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: OʼLeary
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aherne
mesh_terms: D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056346:Sternotomy; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed