title: Evolution and complications of chest trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with chest trauma, and to evaluate their correlation with the development of complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, prospective and analytical study of a patient cohort with chest trauma who underwent follow-up for a period of 30 days. Excluded from the study were those patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, long-bone fractures, abdominal trauma and patients requiring mechanical ventilation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 376 patients met the inclusion criteria, 220 of whom were males (58.5%). The most frequent causes of trauma were falls (218 cases; 57.9%) and motor vehicle accidents (57 cases; 15.1%). The most frequent type of trauma was rib contusion (248 cases; 65.9%) and rib fractures (61 cases; 16.2%). Complications were observed in 43 patients (11.4%), mainly hemothorax (13 cases), pneumothorax (9 cases), pneumonia (6 cases) and acute renal failure (4 cases). Four patients died due to pneumonia and hemothorax. Thirty-three patients were hospitalized (8.7%) and 10 (2.6%) required later re-admittance. The risk for complications increased significantly in patients with more than 2 rib fractures, in those over the age of 85 and in the presence of certain comorbidities, such as COPD and pathologies requiring anticoagulation therapy. The risk for re-admittance is higher in patients over the age of 60.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with chest trauma who present certain comorbidities, are over the age of 85 and have more than 2 rib fractures may present more complications. These factors should be contemplated in the evaluation, management and follow-up of these subjects.
authors: Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España. reguloavila@gmail.com
authors: Régulo José
authors: RJ
authors: Ávila Martínez
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Hernández Voth
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Marrón Fernández
authors: Fátima
authors: F
authors: Hermoso Alarza
authors: Iván
authors: I
authors: Martínez Serna
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Mariscal de Alba
authors: Mauricio
authors: M
authors: Zuluaga Bedoya
authors: María Dolores
authors: MD
authors: Trujillo
authors: José Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Meneses Pardo
authors: Vicente
authors: V
authors: Díaz Hellin
authors: Emilio
authors: E
authors: Larru Cabrero
authors: A Pablo
authors: AP
authors: Gámez García
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000209:etiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants