Foreign Bodies ; complications ; Humans ; Neck Injuries ; etiology ; Thoracic Injuries ; etiology ; Wood ; Wounds, Penetrating ; etiology

Aneurysm, False ; etiology ; Aorta, Thoracic ; injuries ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; etiology ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Steel

We reported two cases of jockeys who sustained fracture/dislocation of the mid-thoracic spine due to traumatic falls during horse racing. We examined the injury mechanism based upon the patients' diagnostic images and video footage of races, in which the accidents occurred. Admission imaging of patient 1 (a 42 years old male) revealed T5 burst fracture with bony retropulsion of 7 mm causing complete paralysis below T5/6. There existed 22° focal kyphosis at T5/6, anterolisthesis of T5 relative to T6, T5/6 disc herniation, cord edema and epidural hemorrhage from T4 through T6, and cord injury from C3 through C6. Admission imaging of patient 2 (a 23 years old male) revealed T4/5 fracture/dislocation causing incomplete paralysis below spinal level. There existed compression fractures at T5, T6, and T7; 4 mm anterior subluxation of T4 on T5; diffuse cord swelling from T3 through T5; comminuted fracture of the C1 right lateral mass; right frontal traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage; and extensive diffuse axonal injury. The injuries were caused by high energy flexion-compression of the mid-thoracic spine with a flexed posture upon impact. Our results suggest that substantially greater cord compression occurred transiently during trauma as compared to that documented from admission imaging. Video footage of the accidents indicated that the spine buckled and failed due to abrupt pocketing and deceleration of the head, neck and shoulders upon impact with the ground combined with continued forward and downward momentum of the torso and lower extremities. While a similar mechanism is well known to cause fracture/dislocation of the cervical spine, it is less common and less understood for mid-thoracic spine injuries. Our study provides insight into the etiology of fracture/dislocation patterns of the mid-thoracic spine due to falls during horse racing.
Accidental Falls ; Animals ; Horses ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; Male ; Spinal Cord Injuries/etiology* ; Spinal Fractures/etiology* ; Spinal Injuries ; Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries*

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of thoracic aorta injury in road traffic accidents, to provide data reference for forensic identification. METHODS: The data of 27 traffic accident death cases with thoracic aorta injury were analyzed according to relevant parameters including sex, age, mode of transportation, and thoracic aorta injury. RESULTS: Aortic injury in traffic accidents was significantly more in males than females, and 74.1% cases were in the age range of 31-70 years. The most common mode of transportation was the motorcycle, followed by electric bike, most of which crashed with trucks. Most cases were accompanied by rib fractures and lung injuries. Thoracic aorta injury was the most common in ascending aorta, followed by aortic arch and thoracic aorta. Ascending aorta injury was most likely to occur in the range of 0-<1.6 cm from the aortic valve, while it was rare over 2.6 cm. Taking the aortic valve as the reference, the most common locations of injury were the anterior semilunar valve, followed by the right posterior semilunar valve and the left posterior semilunar valve. Thoracic aortic rupture occurred in 63.0% cases, and intima and media lacerations only occurred in 37.0% cases. A few deceased had aortic diseases. CONCLUSIONS The proximal part of the ascending aorta is prone to be injured because of the large external force of traffic accidents. The medical examiner should carefully examine the aortic injury in traffic accident deaths, and evaluate the relationship between the injury and the disease according to the condition and degree of aortic injury.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aorta, Thoracic/injuries* ; Accidents, Traffic ; Thoracic Injuries ; Aortic Rupture/etiology* ; Rib Fractures

Thoracic splenosis is the autotransplantation of splenic tissue in the left thoracic cavity as a result of a splenic injury. This rare pathology is usually asymptomatic and may be discovered on incidental imaging, but the diagnosis often requires invasive procedures such as surgery in order to eliminate a neoplasic origin. We report a rare symptomatic case of a 39-year-old man presenting with chest pain and multiple nodules revealed on a computed tomography scan. The patient underwent a surgical exploration and the pathological studies concluded to a thoracic splenosis. Indeed, the previous medical history of the patient revealed a left thoraco-abdominal traumatism during childhood. The aim of this paper is to emphasize that the diagnosis can now be performed using only imaging techniques such as technetium-99 sulfur colloid or labelled heat-denatured red blood cell scintigraphy to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures including thoracotomy.
Abdominal Injuries ; complications ; Adult ; Asymptomatic Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Spleen ; injuries ; Splenectomy ; Splenosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Injuries ; complications ; Thoracotomy ; Unnecessary Procedures

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism associated with thoracolumbar burst fractures.

METHODSStress distribution of the spine in the upright, flexion and extension positions was analyzed using a three-dimensional finite element model of the spinal motion segment.

RESULTSStress concentration was noted at the pedicle and posterosuperior part of the vertebral body near the pedicle.

CONCLUSIONStress concentration of the spine may be implicated in the biomechanical mechanism underlying thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Type 2 manubriosternal dislocations with concomitant spinal fracture are rare and may be associated with thoracic visceral injuries. The complication of delayed haemothorax has not been reported yet. We report a case of a young male who suffered manubriosternal dislocation with chance type thoracic spine fracture due to fall of a tree branch over his back. The haemothorax presented late on day three. The possible injury mechanism is discussed along with review of literature. We conclude that a lateral chest radiograph is indicated in spinal fracture patients complaining of midsternal pain. Computerized axial tomography scan of chest with contrast is indicated to rule out visceral injuries and a chest radiograph should be repeated before the patient is discharged to look for delayed haemothorax.
Adult ; Hemothorax ; etiology ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Manubrium ; injuries ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Sternum ; injuries ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries

Chest trauma can lead to various cardiac complications ranging from simple arrhythmias to myocardial rupture. An acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare complication that can occur after chest trauma. We report a case of 66-year-old male who suffered a blunt chest trauma from a traffic accident resulting in an AMI. The coronary angiography revealed an eccentric 50% narrowing of the ostium of left anterior descending artery (LAD) by a dissection flap with calcification. Intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) revealed eccentric calcified plaque (minimal luminal diameter [MLD]=3.5 mm) with a dissection flap. Intervention was not performed considering the MLD and calcified flap, and he has been conservatively managed with aspirin and losartan for 2 years. The follow-up coronary angiography showed an insignificant luminal narrowing of the proximal LAD from the ostium without evidence of a dissection. An early coronary evaluation including an IVUS study should be considered for managing patients who complain of ongoing, deep-seated chest pain with elevated cardiac enzyme levels and an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) after a blunt chest trauma. Based on this case, some limited cases of traumatic coronary artery dissections can be healed with conservative management and result in a good prognosis.
Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting/diagnosis/*etiology ; Coronary Aneurysm/diagnosis/*etiology ; Coronary Angiography ; Human ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis/*etiology ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thoracic Injuries/*complications ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating/*complications

Adult ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Humans ; Thoracic Injuries ; complications ; pathology ; Trauma Severity Indices ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy