Synonyms: Chest contusion
General information
A thoracic contusion is an injury to the upper body (thorax) caused by blunt trauma without the injury to bone. The internal organs such as the heart, lungs and vessels are not damaged by a thorax contusion. The causes are usually blunt trauma, for example car accidents.
Diagnosis
If a chest contusion is suspected, it is important to rule out injuries to other organs and bones. Depending on the severity of the injury, an X-ray image may be sufficient, or a CT scan may be performed. In a CT scan not only the bony structures can be assessed, but also the internal organs, which is not possible with an X-ray image.
Only the bones can be assessed in the X-ray image. In addition, an ECG can be written to rule out an injury to the heart. However, the diagnosis of thoracic contusion is an exclusion diagnosis, which means that it is first checked whether another diagnosis is more appropriate.
If all other diseases are excluded, the diagnosis of thoracic contusion can be made. In about 80% of cases, there are initially no external signs of injury that would indicate a chest contusion. In most cases, bounce marks appear later. Symptoms of a thoracic contusion are, for example: The pain can last for weeks, sometimes even several months requiring treatment.
- Pressure pain,
- Breath-dependent pain,
- Pain during certain movements,
- Gentle posture and gentle breathing.
Therapy of a thoracic contusion
The therapy of a thoracic contusion consists of a symptomatic therapy and a prophylaxis. Analgesics (such as ibuprofen) are prescribed to relieve the pain, while antibiotics are usually prescribed to prevent pneumonia. To avoid long-term damage, physiotherapy can be beneficial.
