Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine  2001;12(4):560-564

Acute Mediastinal Tamponade Secondary to Blunt Chest Trauma: Case report.

Sang Kyu YOON 1 ; Jong Seok PARK ; Joon Pil CHO

Affiliations

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Keywords

Blunt chest trauma; Mediastinal hemorrhage; Sternal fracture

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Sternal fractures are most common in drivers of motor vehicles whose anterior chest hits the steering wheel during sudden deceleration. Sternal fractures may result in mediastinal hematoma secondary to bone marrow oozing. The hematoma usually resolves itself without complications, so an anterior mediastinal hematoma causing tamponade is rarely reported. We describe a case of blunt chest trauma resulting in a sternal fracture with a resultant anterior mediastinal hematoma and mediastinal tamponade.