Fatal Delayed Hemothorax after Simple Rib Fracture.
10.7580/kjlm.2017.41.2.56
- Author:
Minju LEE
1
;
Sang Bum LIM
;
Hye Jeong KIM
;
Sohyung PARK
;
Hongil HA
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Hemothorax;
Rib fractures;
Death;
Autopsy
- MeSH:
Aged;
Ankle;
Arteries;
Autopsy;
Delirium;
Hemothorax*;
Humans;
Orthopedics;
Rib Fractures*;
Ribs*;
Rupture;
Thorax;
Vital Signs
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2017;41(2):56-59
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
We report the case of a 66-year-old man who died of fatal delayed hemothorax after blunt trauma to the chest. When the deceased was transferred to the hospital, his vital signs were stable; hence, medical attention was focused only on the fracture on right ankle. Three days after the orthopedic surgery, he became unsettled with symptoms similar to delirium and exhibited unstable vital signs; he then suddenly died. On autopsy, a beveled fracture was identified on the posterior aspect of the left second rib with hemothorax. It was because of a rupture in the intercostal artery at the fracture site that a simple fracture in a rib, following a blunt chest trauma can be a potentially life-threatening condition. We suggest that a meticulous examination should be performed at the rib fracture sites when a blunt trauma to the chest is suspected even when there are no internal organ injuries identified except hemothorax.
