Galvin I F, Costa R, Murton M
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Ann Thorac Surg. 1993 Sep;56(3):558-9. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(93)90899-s.
Described is an unusual injury, arising from a motorized vehicle accident, in which a detached fractured rib from a flail chest caused lung perforation and hemopericardium. The full diagnosis was only appreciated on computed tomography. Therefore, thoracotomy averted potential disaster.