• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.133-136
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• 2008

Injury to the internal mammary artery secondary to blunt chest trauma is a rare condition. It is also uncommon to see extraplerual and mediastinal hematoma in these circumstances; this demands early diagnosis and active treatment. We report here on a 59 year old man who underwent surgery for extraplerual and mediastinal hematoma, and this was all due to injury of the internal mammary artery after blunt chest trauma. We also include a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2021

Background: Diaphragmatic injuries following blunt or penetrating thoraco-abdominal trauma are rare, but can be life-threatening. Rib fractures are the most common associated injury in patients with a traumatic diaphragmatic injury (TDI). We hypothesized that the pattern of rib fracture injuries could dictate the likelihood of acute TDIs. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out between April 2014 and October 2018 to analyze patients with TDIs and rib fractures at a major trauma center in London, United Kingdom. Results: Over the study period, 1,560 patients had rib fractures, of whom 14 had associated diaphragmatic injuries. Left-sided diaphragmatic injuries were found in 8 patients (57%). A significant proportion of the rib fractures were located posterolaterally (44.9%). The highest frequency of fractures was found in ribs 5-10, which accounted for 74% of all the fractures. Ten patients underwent surgery, of whom 7 were diagnosed with a diaphragmatic injury intraoperatively after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery assessment of the pleural cavity. Two patients died due to severe injuries of other organs and the remaining 2 patients were managed conservatively. Conclusion: Our series of patients demonstrates a relationship between significant rib fractures and diaphragmatic injuries in trauma patients, and the diagnostic difficulties in identifying the condition. We found that the location of the rib fractures and the pattern of injury in patients with TDIs were much lower and posterolateral in the chest wall without a preference for laterality. We suggest using a thoracoscope in patients undergoing chest wall surgery post-trauma to aid in diagnosing this condition.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2005

Background: Traumatic rupture of the aorta is a life-threatening injury that must be diagnosed as rapidly as possible and treated immediately. The chest X-ray is a valuable tool for screening traumatic rupture of the aorta in blunt chest trauma. And various chest radiologic parameters are being used as diagnostic tools for aortic injury. The purpose of this study is to identify chest radiographic parameters that may assist in the detection of traumatic rupture of the aorta and to compare these findings with those of other reports. Methods: This study involved 30 adult patients with traumatic rupture of the aorta seen at the emergency department of the Asan Medical Center from 1997 to 2004. The control subjects were 30 healthy patients with neither lung nor cardiovascular disease. We retrospectively assessed over 14 parameters on chest X-rays. Results: In 11 of the 14 parameters, there were significant differences between the study group and the control group. There was no significant difference in the M/C ratio (mediastinumto-chest width ratio) between the two groups, and neither the left nor the right paraspinal interface was statistically significant (p value>0.05). Our study indicates that new criteria for the MC ratio and for the paraspinal interfaces are needed for screening traumatic aorta injury. The other radiographic parameters for traumatic rupture of the aorta need to be further assessed through a prospective study.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.458-460
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• 2011

Intramuscular hemangioma originated in chest wall is a rare benign tumor, with no relevant reports in Korea. In most cases, the tumor is discovered before the age of 30 years and it is reported that trauma operates as the initiation factor. It is essential to concern the clinical suspicion and conduct a CT scan for diagnosis. The principle of treatment is surgical excision with clear resection margin. The authors of this study report a case of surgical excision for post-traumatic intramuscular hemangioma of the chest wall with review of literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.736-744
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• 1990

From Jan. 1985 to Sep. 1989, four hundred and ten patients were admitted to the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine with a diagnosis of nonpenetrating chest trauma. The most common cause of injury were motor vehicle accidents(75.1%) with the prevalent age group being their forties. The four most common findings were rib fracture(83.4%), hemothorax(50.7%), pneumothorax(24.6%) and clavicle fracture(12.0%), Fifty piratory insufficiency and the ventilation time was correlated with 6 fators : 1) shock 2) endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy 3) hemothorax 4) clavicle fracture 5) flail chest 6) more than three combined injuries or combined head injury. Ventilatory care was also related with mortality and complications such as pneumonia sepsis and empyema thoracis(p<0.05). The most common organism of post-traumatic infection were Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.141-143
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• 2002

Few patients with traumatic aortic laceration remain undiagnosed and survive long enough to develop a chronic aneurysm. Such aneurysms are frequently asymptomatic: alternatively, they may manifest chest pain, dysphagia, bronchial irritation, or sudden death. A case of aortobronchial fistula secondary to a chronic post-traumatic aneurysm of the aortic isthmus is presented. Hemoptysis was the main sign. The affected segment of the thoracic aorta was repaired with a Hemashield patch and a left upper lobectomy was performed.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.362-368
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• 2023

Purpose: Clinical reports on treatment outcomes of sternal fractures are lacking. This study details the clinical features, treatment approaches, and outcomes related to traumatic sternal fractures over a 10-year period at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients admitted to a regional trauma center between January 2012 and December 2021. Among 7,918 patients with chest injuries, 266 were diagnosed with traumatic sternal fractures. Patient data were collected, including demographics, injury mechanisms, severity, associated injuries, sternal fracture characteristics, hospital stay duration, mortality, respiratory complications, and surgical details. Surgical indications encompassed emergency cases involving intrathoracic injuries, unstable fractures, severe dislocations, flail chest, malunion, and persistent high-grade pain. Results: Of 266 patients with traumatic sternal fractures, 260 were included; 98 underwent surgical treatment for sternal fractures, while 162 were managed conservatively. Surgical indications ranged from intrathoracic organ or blood vessel injuries necessitating thoracotomy to unstable fractures with severe dislocations. Factors influencing surgical treatment included flail motion and rib fracture. The median length of intensive care unit stay was 5.4 days (interquartile range [IQR], 1.5-18.0 days) for the nonsurgery group and 8.6 days (IQR, 3.3-23.6 days) for the surgery group. The median length of hospital stay was 20.9 days (IQR, 9.3-48.3 days) for the nonsurgery group and 27.5 days (IQR, 17.0 to 58.0 days) for the surgery group. The between-group differences were not statistically significant. Surgical interventions were successful, with stable bone union and minimal complications. Flail motion in the presence of rib fracture was a crucial consideration for surgical intervention. Conclusions: Surgical treatment recommendations for sternal fractures vary based on flail chest presence, displacement degree, and rib fracture. Surgery is recommended for patients with offset-type sternal fractures with rib and segmental sternal fractures. Surgical intervention led to stable bone union and minimal complications.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 2014

Although blunt traumatic cardiac rupture is an uncommon injury, it can be associated with a high mortality rate. Two cases of cardiac rupture in blunt trauma patients are described herein. In those cases, applications of mechanical support devices such as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and early surgery for exploration under cardiopulmonary bypass may be helpful for treating blunt chest trauma patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 1994

We have experienced 21 cases of traumatic diaphragm injury between October, 1989 and September, 1993. Of these patients, 17 cases were caused by blunt trauma and 4 by penetrating injury. Among 17 blunt traumas, 10 cases developed at left side, 6 at right and 1 at central subpericardial diaphragm, and among penetrating injuries, 3 cases developed at right side and 1 at left. Overall mortality rate was 21% and one due to blunt trauma was 29%. Initial hypotension was a predisposing factor to presume future death. When associated injuries involved 4 or more organs, mortality rate was high.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.127-133
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• 2006

Background: In the studies of the distribution of time to death in trauma patients, the early deaths within several hours after injury were a large component of total trauma deaths. Due to the development of trauma system, overall mortality of trauma was decreased, but trauma is still the major cause of deaths. Material and Method: From January 1994 to December 2003, trauma patients who had been admitted and had expired at tertiary hospital were enrolled. There was a total of 400 cases, a retrospective study was done to determine the distribution of trauma mortality according to the part of the body that were severely injured part and compared the difference between early deaths within 6 hours and late deaths after 6 hours. We also analysed the risk factors of early deaths due to trauma. Result: In severe injury to the head and abdomen, the distribution of mortality was bimodal. But, in severe chest injuries, the distribution was log-shape and most early deaths were almost of trauma related. The average of GCS were 5.86$\pm$4.15 for the early deaths and 8.24$\pm$5.02 for the late deaths (p < 0.05). The AIS of thorax were 2.66$\pm$1.87 for the early deaths and 1.55$\pm$1.76 for late deaths. The risk factors for early mortality were non-EMS transportation (odds ratio 3.474), high AIS (odds ratio 1.491) and GCS (odds ratio 0.859). Conclusion: In trauma patients, the causes of early mortality were severe brain injury and massive hemorrhage. Also severe chest injuries were the major cause of the early deaths in truama. Early diagnosis of chest injury can frequently be missed in the acute trauma setting. Therefore, high index of suspicion, a careful examination, and aggressive surgical treatment are important in multiple trauma patients.