[Injuries of the thoracic skeleton].

Injuries of the thoracic skeleton are an important indicator of other, relevant traumatic changes after a polytrauma. Most fractures occur in the ribs, followed by fractures of the clavicle, the scapula and the sternum. Because of their high kinetic energy, car accidents are the main reason for thoracic fractures. The basic radiologic tool is the a.p. projection of the thorax in supine position; in addition, other conventional x-ray examinations or computed tomography are performed. Most thoracic fractures are treated conservatively, only in few cases (instability of the thorax, risk of pseudoarthrosis, incongruence of joint surfaces) surgical procedures are used.