摘要
Physical traumas are tragic and multifaceted injuries that suddenly threaten life.Although it is the third most common cause of death in all age groups,one out of four trauma patients die due to thoracic injury or its complications.Blunt injuries constitute the majority of chest trauma.This indicates the im porta nee of chest trauma among all traumas.Blunt chest trauma is usually caused by motor vehicle accident,falling from height,blunt instrument injury and physical assault.As a result of chest trauma,many injuries may occur,such as pulm onary injuries,and these require urge nt in terve ntion.Chest wall and pulmonary injuries range from rib fractures to flail chest,pneumothorax to hemothorax and pulmonary contusion to tracheobronchial injuries.Following these injuries,patients may present with a simple dyspnea or even respiratory arrest.For such patie nt,it is imports nt to understa nd the treatme nt logic and to take a multidisciplinary approach to treat the pulmonary and chest wall injuries.This is because only 10%of thoracic trauma patients require surgical operation and the remaining 90%can be treated with simple methods such as appropriate airway,oxygen support,maneuvers,volume support and tube thoracostomy.Adequate pain control in chest trauma is sometimes the most basic and best treatment.With definite diagnosis,the morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced by simple treatment methods.
