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

OBJECTIVETo explore the management of thoracic spinal trauma (TST) associated with closed thoracoabdominal injuries (CTAI).

METHODSA retrospective study was made on 259 patients with TST admitted to our department as an emergency treatment from January 1996 to June 2001. We summarized the clinical features of TST associated with CTAI.

RESULTSAmong 259 patients with thoracic spinal trauma, 112 were associated with CTAI. Traffic accident was the most common cause. The force causing upper TST was more violent than that causing the lower. Pulmonary complications were the leading cause of death in this group. Surgery could not improve neurological function for completely paraplegic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe reason that upper TST has the tendency to be associated with CTAI is its special anatomical feature. Routine ultrasonic examination can avoid misdiagnosis of latent closed abdominal injuries associated with spinal injury. The presence of potential injuries, especially CTAI, should be considered when deciding whether or not to perform surgery early.

Adult ; Female ; Hemopneumothorax ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Paracentesis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; diagnosis ; Thoracic Injuries ; diagnosis

Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Humans ; Spinal Injuries ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries

Cervical tracheal rupture is one of the rare injuries after blunt chest trauma, and this can be explained by several mechanisms. Early diagnosis and treatment of tracheal rupture after trauma can reduce the mortality and morbidity. We report here on a surgical experienced case of complete rupture of the cervical tracheal that was due to increased intra-tracheal pressure after a compression injury to the chest of an 8 years old child. We also include a review of the literature.
Child* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mortality ; Rupture* ; Thoracic Injuries* ; Thorax* ; Trachea*

Tracheobronchial injury is a rare but potentially fatal complication of blunt chest trauma. Delays in diagnosis may occur because the signs are nonspecific and these injuries are infrequent. This case report describes a patient who experienced blunt chest injury with a resulting left main bronchus rupture that was not initially diagnosed. The most challenging aspect of reconstruction surgery for tracheobronchial rupture is to design an effective ventilation method during operation that does not interfere with surgical exposure and allows adequate ventilation. Communication with the surgical team and careful planning of all surgical details are important. We review our experience, the ventilation technique and anesthetic problem encountered in the patient undergoing bronchial reconstruction.
Bronchi* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Rupture* ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thorax* ; Ventilation

Humans ; Spinal Fractures ; classification ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Thoracic Injuries* ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

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 analyze the reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting posterior ligament complex injury in thoracolumbar fractures.

METHODSNinety-five patients with thoracolumbar fracture were evaluated by palpation of the inter-spinal gap, plain radiography, and MRI before operation. In addition to conventional MRI sequences, a fat-suppressed T2-weighted sagittal sequence was performed. Surgery was performed by a posterior approach. During the operation, posterior ligament complex was examined.

RESULTSA wide inter-spinal gap was palpated in 41 patients and was found in 55 patients on plain radiography. According to MRI, injury to the supraspinal ligament was suspected in 85 patients, the inter-spinal ligament in 83 patients, and the ligamentum flavum in 26 patients. There were 82 supraspinal ligament injuries, 80 inter-spinal ligament injuries, and 20 ligamentum flavum injuries in operative findings. The relations between plain radiography and operative findings, between MRI interpretation and operative findings were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONA fat-suppressed T2-weighted sagittal sequence of MRI is a highly sensitive, specific, and accurate method to detect posterior ligament complex injury and which is recommended for the accurate evaluation of posterior ligament complex injury in thoracolumbar fractures.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Capsule ; injuries ; Ligaments, Articular ; injuries ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; diagnosis ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. With the increase in the number of automobile accidents, traumatic tricuspid regurgitation has become an important problem after blunt chest trauma. It has been reported more frequently because of better diagnostic procedures and a better understanding of the pathology. The early diagnosis of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is important because traumatic tricuspid injury could be effectively corrected with reparative techniques, early operation is considered to relieve symptoms and to prevent right ventricular dysfunction. Echocardiography can reveal the cause and severity of regurgitation. We experienced a case of tricuspid regurgitation after blunt chest trauma early diagnosis and valve repair were performed. This case reminds the physicians in the emergency department should be aware of this potential complication following non-penetrating chest trauma and echocardiography is useful and should play an early role.
Automobiles ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Papillary Muscles ; Rupture ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thorax ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right