Traumatic Thoracic Burst Fracture Associated with Bronchial Rupture

Wei-Ting Lin; Shih-Yang Su; Cheng-Fang Hsieh; Chih-Cheng Lai; Chien-Ming Chao

doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.04.024

Traumatic Thoracic Burst Fracture Associated with Bronchial Rupture

J Emerg Med. 2017 Aug;53(2):260-261. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.04.024. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Authors

Wei-Ting Lin¹, Shih-Yang Su², Cheng-Fang Hsieh³, Chih-Cheng Lai⁴, Chien-Ming Chao⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
³ Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan.

PMID: 28648782
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.04.024

Abstract

Background: Rupture of, or injury to, the tracheobronchial tree is a rare occurrence in blunt chest trauma.

Case report: We present a case of bronchial rupture caused by fragmented bone from a spinal burst fracture after blunt chest trauma. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Although tracheobronchial injury is infrequent, clinicians should be aware of this possible complication after blunt chest trauma. Bronchoscopy can help in the diagnosis.

Keywords: blunt chest trauma; bronchial rupture; complications.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Bronchi / injuries*
Bronchi / pathology
Bronchi / physiopathology
Bronchoscopy / methods
Fractures, Bone / complications*
Fractures, Bone / physiopathology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Rupture / complications
Rupture / etiology*
Thoracic Injuries / complications
Trachea / injuries