
Chapter 86 CHEST TRAUMA598
10. How do I diagnose a rib fracture by physical examination?
A rib fracture and chest wall contusion will both exhibit localized tenderness to palpation.
However, only a rib fracture will exhibit referred pain when the rib is compressed posterior or
anterior to the area of localized tenderness. In a stable patient in no respiratory distress, a
chest X-ray is unnecessary and may not reveal an insolated, nondisplaced rib fracture.
11. What are the radiologic findings of pulmonary contusion?
Characteristic findings on chest radiographs consist of solitary or multiple patchy, ill-defined
areas that may be either localized or diffuse resulting from blood accumulating in the alveoli
and interstitial spaces of the lung. Areas of opacification of the lung seen on chest X-ray
within 6 hours of blunt trauma are usually considered pulmonary contusions. Although often
visible within 1 to 2 hours following blunt chest trauma injury, these findings sometimes may
not appear until several hours after injury. The findings on chest X-ray often lag behind those
seen on clinical examination and chest CT.
12. What is the significance of a sternal fracture?
The significance of a sternal fracture lies in the fact that it is often associated with more
serious injuries such as damage to the great vessels or blunt myocardial injury (BMI)
requiring further investigation. Sternal fractures are often missed on initial chest X-ray and are
best viewed on lateral films or by CT scan.
13. When should BMI be suspected, and what types of injuries occur?
BMI is most commonly caused by high speed motor vehicle accidents, but it is also seen
with direct blows to the chest, crush injuries, falls from heights, blast injuries, and athletic
trauma. Mechanisms of blunt injury to the heart include sudden anterior-posterior
acceleration or deceleration forces causing the heart to impact against the sternum and
vertebrae, direct compression from a forceful blow to the chest or abdomen, any sudden
increase in intrathoracic and intracardiac pressures, and prolonged cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR). BMI injuries include wall rupture, septal rupture, valvular injuries (aortic
most common), direct myocardial injury (contusion), coronary laceration or thrombosis, and
pericardial injury.
14. What are the symptoms of BMI and how is it diagnosed?
The symptoms of BMI vary with the severity of injury, but most commonly include chest pain,
tachycardia unexplained by the degree of blood loss, trauma, pain and dysrhythmias. Although
there are no good screening tests available, a reasonable approach to diagnosis includes
obtaining an initial electrocardiogram (ECG) for any patient who has sustained blunt trauma to
the mid-anterior chest. If normal, the patient may be discharged from the ED. If the initial ECG
is abnormal, they should be admitted to telemetry and a repeat ECG obtained in 24 hours. A
negative troponin obtained 6-8 hours post injury may further help to exclude BMI.
15. What are the most common ECG abnormalities in a patient with BMI?
A persistent supraventricular tachycardia (after all other causes have been treated or ruled
out), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), transient right bundle branch block, or any
other new ECG abnormalities may commonly be seen in patients with BMI.
16. What are the clinical findings of pericardial tamponade?
Pericardial tamponade occurs when blood and clots accumulate in the pericardial space,
compromising cardiac filling pressure and ultimately leading to shock and death. Pericardial
tamponade should be suspected in any penetrating wound of the chest and is typically
associated with hypotension, tachycardia, and elevated central venous pressure (CVP).
Paradoxical pulse, characterized by a drop in systolic blood pressure of more than 10 to
15 mm Hg during normal spontaneous inspiration may also be seen. All of these findings
are also seen with tension pneumothorax and this must first be clinically ruled out. Bedside
ultrasonography is the most rapid and reliable means of diagnosis.