Penetrating chest wounds is less common but more deadly then blunt trauma. Majority of penetrating chest trauma can be managed conservatively with observation and simple thoracotomy. This case report highlights a bizarre occupational hazard causing a penetrating chest injury and the option of non-invasive management with the aid of computed tomography with 3D reconstruction.
Thoracic Injuries

No abstract available.
Humans ; Thoracic Injuries* ; Thoracotomy*

From September 1994 to August 2000, there were 206 patients with abdominal-thoracic injuries who admitted the Popular Hospital. Among these, there were 22 patients (10.7%) included 20 males and 2 females had heart and major blood vessel injuries. Mean age of patients was 30 years. All of them were stabbed with knife. 2/22 patients had treated previously in the other hospital. 20 patients had the mean time from accident to admission was 1 hour and 14 minutes (ranged from 15 minutes to 3 hours). Among 12 deaths, 4 cases occurred before admission, 2 before surgical intervention, 5 during operation, and 1 in second day post-operation. So, there were only 11 patients underwent surgical treatment, included 2 patients with heart injuries and 9 with major blood vessel injuries. 10/11 patients gained good outcome after operation. 1 in 11 patients was dead from abdominal aortic injury.
Injuries ; surgery ; Thoracic Injuries ; Wounds and Injuries

Humans ; Rib Fractures ; Thoracic Injuries

Thoracic impalement injuries are very rare and the majority of patients do not survive to reach a medical care facility. In this case report, we describe the successful outcome of a case of double thoracic impalement by two steel tors, of which one steel tor had impaled two patients simultaneously. The case report highlights all aspects of managing such rare and complex cases right from prehospital care; extrication process which happened under controlled environment at the trauma centre itself, till the definitive management of the impaled thoracic objects. Thoracic impalement injuries are dramatic and appear very challenging. However presence of mind of the managing team, coordinated team effort and availability of adequate facilities can lead to a successful outcome.
Humans ; Thoracic Injuries ; Wounds, Penetrating

In old age, a traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst is an extremely rare condition that generally develops after blunt chest trauma. It is more common among pediatric and young adult patients. We report three elderly patients who presented with chest symptoms after blunt chest trauma and whose computed tomography showed post-traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts.
Aged ; Humans ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thorax ; Young Adult

Pneumothorax is the presence of gas in the pleural space. Traumatic pneumothorax results from penetrating or nonpenetrating chest injuries and iatrogenic pneumothorax occurs as a consequence of a diagnostic or therapeutic maneuver. When interventional muscle and soft tissue stimulation (IMNS) therapy is performed, iatrogenic pneumothorax is not common, but once it has occurred, it gives suffering and pain to both the patient and physician. We experienced three cases of iatrogenic pneumothorax after IMNS therapy. Commonly, the patients with peumothorax are treated with a tube thoracostomy on admission, but these patients can be simply treated with simple observation, oxygen inhalation and simple aspiration without admission and the results are satisfactory. Although iatogenic pneumothorax after IMNS therapy appears to be an rare, IMNS procedure still must be done with care.
Humans ; Inhalation ; Oxygen ; Pneumothorax* ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracostomy

Some remarks on the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of lung-pleural wound with hematothorax and pneumothorax. The study was carried out retrospectively (60 patients) and prospective (20 patients) on lung-pleural wound with hematothorax and pneumothorax at the Department of Field Surgery in Military Hospital 103 during 1990-2001. Results showed that:- 50% of patients were admitted to hospital with shock, mainly shock of slight and average level.-Clinical characteristics were thoracodynia in wounded side (100%), dyspnea (83.75%), respiratory murmur decrease (100%).- Thoraci radiography showed clear image of hematothorax and pneumothorax in 90.5% of patients. – In 100% patients with ultrusound method, blood was identified in pleural cavity
Lung ; Pneumothorax ; Radiography, Thoracic ; diagnosis ; Wounds and Injuries

A very rare and serious complication of shoulder dislocation is a lesion to the axillary artery in the elderly population, whose vascular structures have become less flexible. Axillary artery injury secondary to anteroinferior shoulder dislocation is much rarer, especially in the young people. Proper recognition and treatment of this entity offers a full recovery to the patient. Present report highlights the possibility of axillary artery injury with anteroinferior shoulder dislocation. A few case reports and small case series of this injury have been reviewed. And recommendations for management have been brought up to date, in line with current thinking.
Axillary Artery ; injuries ; Embolism ; Humans ; Shoulder Dislocation ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thrombosis

Background: Spinal injury is a severe, common injury in surgical emergency. In Vietnam, there are only few studies on fixing thoracolumbar spine. Objectives: To assess and to provide some preliminary remarks on the results of emergency surgery fixing thoracolumbar spine, performed in Viet Duc Hospital. Subjects and method: A descriptive, prospective study was conducted on 31 patients with thoracolumbar spinal injury (22 males, 9 females, the average age 35 years old), operated in Viet Duc hospital from January, 2005 to July, 2006. Results:Patients with thoracolumbar spinal injury was common seen in working ages. 45.2% of them were farmers. 21/31 patients caused by falls. For non-complete paralysis patients, emergency surgery was required as soon as possible. The most of patients recovered completely. For thoracolumbar spinal injury, Burst-fracture and non complete paralysis, surgery with anterior way should be performed to release cord compression and bone graft. For cases of Burst-fracture, no paralysis, surgery with anterior way helped bone fractures were easy to heal, avoiding postoperative humpback recurrence. Conclusion: Combined surgery with 2 ways (before and after) guaranteed fixing spine, making bone healing was more better in case of rupture of vertebrae, releasing directly spinal cord and facilitating to the best recovery of the spinal cord.
Spinal Injuries/ surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae/ injuries ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae/ injuries ; surgery ; Fractures ; Bone Emergencies ;