[Surgical management of thoracic and thoraco-abdominal injuries]

From 1970 to 1974 407 patients with thoracic injuries have been treated by the authors in the 2nd Surgical and Thoracic Surgical Department of the "János" Hospital, Budapest--out of them 190 patients were classified as severely injured. The material and the operative technique in isolated thoracal and combined thoracal-abdominal injuries are discussed. The importance of the operative stabilization of the thoracic wall is emphasized and fixation of the thoracic wall by means of pericostal sutures is advocated, if because of the intrathoracal injury--just the same--thoracotomy is to be performed. On the basis of their experiences and because of the risk of late complications and of residues impairing the function in certain types of the thoracal injuries surgical treatment is advocated by the authors.