Thoracic injuries. A review of 93 cases.

A report is presented of 93 patients referred for specialist management of thoracic injuries in the 5-year period 1973-1978. Penetrating trauma to the thorax had been sustained by 18 patients and blunt trauma by 75. Falls and traffic accidents were the most common causes (32 and 35 cases). Rib fractures were the most frequent lesions, and 10 of these 67 patients had flail chest. Hemothorax and/or pneumothorax were found in four-fifths of the patients. The diaphragm was torn in five cases. Three had lesions of the heart and/or pericardium and one patient had a tracheal lesion. Closed pleural drainage was the most commonly used treatment. Thoracotomy was performed in 10 of the 93 patients. The mortality rate in the series (10%) agreed with findings from other, similar studies.