Chest Injury (Thoracic Trauma): Complications

The following are the major conditions or complications that may be contributed to by chest trauma (thoracic injury):

Respiratory system (J00-J99)

Bronchial rupture (bronchial tear).
Bronchotracheal injury – detachment or tearing of the trachea or bronchi.
Chylothorax (accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space).
Hematothorax (accumulation of blood in the pleural space).
Hematopneumothorax – pneumothorax and hematothorax occur in combination.
Pulmonary contusion (pulmonary contusion) (12%)
Lung rupture (lung tear)
Pneumothorax – collapse of the lung caused by an accumulation of air between the visceral pleura (lung pleura) and the parietal pleura (pleura parietalis); e.g., due to pulmonary rupture (rupture of the lung) (20%)
Respiratory insufficiency (respiratory insufficiency; disturbance of external (mechanical) breathing), with the consequence of hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply to the tissue) – Cave: often occurs after 1-2 hours!
Tension pneumothorax – life-threatening form of pneumothorax; e.g., due to lung rupture.
Tracheal rupture (tear of the trachea) or injury.

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).

Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)

Aortic rupture (rupture of the aorta).
Cardiac contusion (heart contusion)
Circulatory insufficiency (failure of circulatory function).
Pericardial tamponade – restriction of the heart muscle due to fluid accumulation in the pericardium.

Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).

Vascular injury (6%), e.g., pulmonary artery injury.
Rib fracture (rib fracture) or rib serial fracture (at least three adjacent ribs are affected) (49%)
Sternal fracture (sternum fracture)
Thoracic contusions (internal organs are not injured, no fractures (broken bones)).

Further

Prognostic factors

An unstable thorax is more often associated with complications as it progresses.