Delayed tension hemothorax after chest trauma in children. Issue 7 (14th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piastra, Marco; Ferrari, Vittoria; Morena, Tony C.; Picconi, Enzo; Conti, Giorgio
• Is Part Of: Pediatric pulmonology. Volume 57:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 1818
• Page End: 1819
• Publication Date: 2022-05-14
• Subjects: chest trauma -- hemothorax -- pediatric emergency; Pediatric respiratory diseases -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.922
• DOI: 10.1002/ppul.25947
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8755-6863

Abstract

Abstract: Blunt chest injury is commonly observed in the Pediatric Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit since up to 30% of children with traumatic injury sustain injury to the thorax. Differently from adults, who present with concomitant rib or sternoclavicular fractures in 70% of cases, more than half of childhood chest injuries occur without any bone fracture, mostly causing lung contusions. This lower rate of rib fractures and near absence of flail chest in children may be due to greater elasticity of the pediatric cartilaginous and bony skeleton. Whenever a rib fracture is present, underlying complications should be evaluated carefully (i.e., air leaks or blood effusions). Depending on the trauma mechanism, even minor injuries should raise the suspicion of pathologic bone fractures.