• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.115-117
• /
• 2019

Although hemothorax and pneumothorax are common complications seen in rib fractures, focal extrapleural hematoma is quite rare. We report a 63-year-old female patient that developed large focal extrapleural hematoma after falling off a second floor veranda. The patient had sustained 3, 4, 5th costal cartilage rib fractures and a sternum fracture. She had developed suspected empyema with loculations with small amount of hemothorax. She underwent a planned early decortication/adhesiolysis by video assisted thoracoscopic surgery at the 12th post-trauma day due to failed drainage. Unexpectedly, she had no adhesions or any significant retained hematoma mimicking a mass, but was found with the focal extrapleural chest wall hematoma. She was discharged on postoperative 46th day for other reasons and is doing fine today.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.502-508
• /
• 2009

Background: Rib fractures are the most common injuries that are caused by blunt chest trauma. However, fractures of the costal cartilage generally go unnoticed on chest X-rays unless they involve a calcified cartilage. For this reason, the sensitivity of conventional radiography for detecting rib fractures is low, and especially those involving the cartilaginous part of the rib. Thus, we have evaluated the usefulness of ultrasonography for detecting fractures of the costal cartilage that were overlooked on the conventional radiographs of patients who suffered minor blunt chest traumas. Material and Method: A total of 45 patients who suffered minor blunt chest trauma and who had no evidence of rib fractures or other major fractures on conventional radiographs were admitted for ultrasonography between April 2008 and March 2009. There were 24 women and 21 men, and the mean age of the patients was 50.4$\pm$15.91 years (range: 17$\sim$76 years). They were examined for the detection of fractures of the costal cartilage by performing ultrasonography with a 7.5-MHz linear transducer. Result: A total of 30 patients (67%) had fractures of the costal cartilage, whereas 15 patients (33%) had no evidence of chondral rib fractures. The mean number of fracture sites of the fractured costal cartilage was 1.6$\pm$0.81 (range: 1$\sim$4 sites) in 30 patients. Periosteal hematoma was the most common finding associated with fractures of the costal cartilage (n=7, 17%), followed by sternum fracture (n=5, 12%). However, periosteal hematoma was noticed in 1 patient (2%) who was without fracture of the costal cartilage, and sternum fracture was noticed in 1 patient (2%) who was without fractures of the costal cartilage. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that ultrasonography may be a useful imaging modality for detecting fractures of the costal cartilage that are overlooked on the conventional radiographs of patients who suffer minor blunt chest trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.803-806
• /
• 2009

A 49-year-old man visited our hospital via the emergency room. He had suffered chest trauma by falling down. His chest X-Ray showed pneumomediastinum with pneumopericardium. We checked the Chest CT, and it showed pneumopericardium without any injury to the other organs, the compressed heart and a minimal pneumothorax on the left hemithorax. Closed thoracostomy was then done under local anesthesia. We then performed open pericardiostomy under general anesthesia. We got a good result and so we report on this case.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.175-179
• /
• 2010

Purpose: Sternal fractures after blunt thoracic trauma can cause significant pain and disability. They are relatively uncommon as a result of direct trauma to the sternum and open reduction is reserved for those with debilitating pain and fracture displacement. We reviewed consecutive 11 cases of open reduction and fixation of sternum and tried to find standard approach to the traumatic sternal fractures with severe displacement. Methods: From December 2008 to August 2010, the medical records of 11 patients who underwent surgical reduction and fixation of sternum for sternal fractures with severe displacement were reviewed. We investigated patients' characteristics, chest trauma, associated other injuries, type of open reduction and fixation, combined operations, preoerative ventilator support and postoperative complications. Results: The mean patient age was 59.3years (range, 41~79). The group comprised 6 male and 5 female subjects. Among 11 patients who underwent open reduction and fixation for sternal fracture with severe displacement, 6 cases had isolated sternal fractures and the other 5 patients had associated other injuries. Sternal fractures were caused by car accidents (9/11, 81.8%), falling down (1/11, 9.1%) and direct blunt trauma to the sternum (1/11, 9.1%), respectively. 3 of the 7 patients (42.9%) who underwent sternal plating with longitudinal plates showed loosening of fixation. Otherwise, none of the 4 patients who underwent surgical fixation using T-shaped plate had stable alignment of the fracture. Conclusion: Sternal fractures with severe displacement need to be repaired to prevent chronic pain, instability of the anterior chest wall, deformity of the sternum, and even kyphosis. In the present study, a T-shaped plate with a compression-tension mechanism constitutes the treatment of choice for displaced sternal fractures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.804-807
• /
• 2010

Blunt bronchial injuries rarely occur in children. This can be a life threatening condition and respiratory management is important for successful treatment. We present here a pediatric patient who had traumatic bronchial transection with difficult airway management. Surgical treatment was carried out under ventilatory support using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the emergency room. During the application of ECMO, systemic heparization was unnecessary and. there were no thrormbotic complications. In conclusion， ventilatory SUpport using ECMO is useful for treating selected patients with blunt trauma regardless of using heparin.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.375-377
• /
• 2003

Pneumomediastinum, also referred to as mediastinal emphysema or Hamman's syndrome, is defined as the presence of air or gas within the fascial planes of the mediastinum. Superior extension of air into the cervicofacial subcutaneous space via communications between the mediastinum and cervical fascial planes or spaces occurs occasionally, Pneumomediastinum frequently results from blunt tracheobronchial lesions and esophageal injuries. However, in most cases, the origin of pneumomediastinum remains unclear. an some cases, it is attributed to the Macklin effect. We report a case of patient with pneumomediastinum, that presented with Macklin effect on chest computed tomographic scan.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The role for minimally invasive surgery in chest trauma is vague, one that recently is more frequently performed, and one attractive option to be considered. Thoracoscopic surgery may improve morbidity, mortality, hasten recovery and shorten hospital stay. Methods: A total of 31 patients underwent video assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of blunt and penetrating chest trauma from June 9th, 2013 to March 21st, 2016 in Jeju, South Korea. Results: Twenty-three patients were males and eight patients were females. Their ages ranged from 23 to 81 years. The cause of injury was due to traffic accident in 17 patients, fall down in 5 patients, bicycle accident in 2 patients, battery in 2 patients, crushing injury in 2 patients, and slip down, kicked by horse, and stab wound in one patient each. Video assisted thoracoscopic exploration was performed in the 18 patients with flail chest or greater than 3 displaced ribs. The thoracoscopic procedures done were hematoma evacuation in 13 patients, partial rib fragment excision in 9 patients, lung suture in 5 patients, bleeding control (ligation or electrocautery) in 3 patients with massive hemothorax, diaphragmatic repair in two patients, wedge resection in two patients and decortication in 1 patient. There was only one patient with conversion to open thoracotomy. Conclusion: There is a broad range of procedures that can be done by thoracoscopic surgery and a painful thoracotomy incision can be avoided. Thoracoscopic surgery can be done safely and swiftly in the trauma patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.7
• /
• pp.713-718
• /
• 1997

Fracture of the sternum has been considered as a serious injury and also associated with major complications such as myocardial, major thoracic vascular, and spinal injury. Retrospective datas from blunt trauma victims admitted to our hospital were analyzed to determine significance of sternal fractures and possible associated injures. 101 sternal fractures by blunt trauma were admitted from january, 1986 to december, 1995. Frequency was about 3.51 olo of the nonpenetrating chest trauma. The ratio of male to female was 1.82 versus 1. Most common cause in the stemal fracture was high decelerating injury(73 cases). Most common fracture site was sternal body(75 cases). Average days of adm ssion were 26 days. Abnormal ECG findings were sinus bradycardia(Teases), complete or incomplete RBBB(6 cases), sinus tachycardia(4 cases), specific S-T change(3 cases), 1st degree A-V block(2 cases), LVH(1 case), PVC(1 case), and Low voltage(1 case). CPK-MB was increased about 32.Lolo of sternal fractures. Except of expired 2 patients, patients were treated with conservative treatment(94 cases) and open reductions & steel wire fixations(5 cases). Complication after operation was wound infection(1 case). Causes of death were 1 hypovolemia and 1 acute respiratory distress syndrome. In conclusion, although sternal fracture is less frequent, and mostly treats with conservative treatment, it shoed be carefully observed because of critical associated injuries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.1257-1262
• /
• 1996

From January 1989 to February 1996, 50 patients with a traumatic diaphragmatic rupture were treated at the Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine. There were 40 male and 10 female patients. The ages ranged from 2 to 80 years, with peak incidence in third decades. Thirty-nine cases had blunt trauma (traffic accident 29, falls down 7, others 3), and 11 cases had penetrating injuries (stab injury 9, gun shot 1, broken glass 1). The most common symptoms were dyspnea (76%), chest pain (58%), and abdominal pain (52%). In blunt trauma, the rupture was located in the left in 30 cases, right in 9 cases and in penetrating trauma, the rupture was located in the left in 8 cases and in the right in 3 cases. Eighteen cases underwent thoracotomy alone, 29 cases underwent laparotomy only and 3 cases had combined thoracotomy and laparotomy. The postoperative mortality occurred in 6% (3 cases), and the cause of death were septic shock (1), intracranial hemorrhage (1), and respiratory failure (1).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 1995

We have experienced 30 cases of traumatic diaphragm injury between January,1988 and August,1993. 30 cases were reviewed and following results were obtained. 1.Sex ratio is 22:8 with male dominance. 2.The 27 cases were due to blunt trauma and other 3 cases were due to penetrating injury. 3.Left side injury was more common than right[24:6 . 4.The most common herniated abdominal organ was the stomach 5.Mortality rate was 27% and its causes were not diaphragmatic injury itself,but other associated multiple organ injury.