[Thoracic surgery]

Thirty-two patients with shock wave lesions to the chest who did not require invasive ventilatory support were treated. The Injury Severity Score (median 13), the pO2/FiO2 ratio (350) and lung injury severity (Murray score 1.25) were analyzed. Symptoms, mainly chest pain, depended on the severity of barotrauma and respiratory distress. All the lesions developed in the first 24 hours and most patients (75%) presented lung contusion. Although patients with lung contusion had greater intra- and extrathoracic comborbidity, differences in comparison with those without lung contusion were not significant, except in length of hospital stay (13 days vs 5.5 days; p = 0.008). Costal fractures were found in 12 patients (37%), mostly in the first 3 ribs and 60% of the patients had reduction of the upper thoracic contour (traumatic apical thoracoplasty). Outcomes were satisfactory with no mortality.