Immediate physiotherapy in perforating wounds of the pleural cavity and underlying lung.

Patients suffering from uncomplicated pneumothorax, haemothorax or haemopneumothorax of clinical significance are treated with fluid replacement, intercostal under-water drainage, antibiotics and routine physiotherapy. The commencement of routine physiotherapy may be delayed 8-60 hrs depending on the time the patient is admitted and arrangement of 'out-of-hours' physiotherapy services, but immediate physiotherapy produces superior results from every point of view.