title: First Rib Fracture Resulting in Horner's Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  First rib fractures and traumatic Horner's syndrome are both quite rare, which can make it difficult to properly diagnose the combination of these 2 conditions in the emergency department. These conditions may be associated with severe medical emergencies, such as ongoing carotid dissection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 33-year-old man who sustained fractures to his right second, third, and fourth ribs and a delay in the diagnosis of left Horner's syndrome after he was involved in a traffic accident. Left Horner's syndrome was caused by a left transverse fracture of the first rib. This fracture was not detected on chest radiographs and required a 3-dimensional reconstructed neck computed tomography scan for detection. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: In the diagnosis of carotid artery dissection, conventional angiography is the criterion standard but is considered invasive. CTA is less invasive, time-saving, and can show more anatomic structures in the neck in addition to the carotid arteries. It is a good screening diagnostic modality in the traumatology department. Although the treatments for Horner's syndrome and first rib fracture are conservative, the early diagnosis of both conditions can resolve the anxiety and uncertainty experienced by both doctors and patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: You-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Tsung
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Al-Rahim Abbasali
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tailor
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jung-Shun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: 3-D reconstructed computed tomography; Horner's syndrome; carotid artery dissection; first rib fracture