Spontaneous resolution of a large traumatic pneumothorax

The aim of this study was to describe a case of a large traumatic pneumothorax (>55%) that resolved completely without intervention. A pneumothorax is the accumulation of air between the visceral and parietal pleura. It can occur spontaneously or be traumatic. Spontaneous pneumothoraces can occur with no underlying lung disease or secondary in nature. The emergency department (ED) treatment of pneumothoraces depends on their size, their etiology, and clinical stability of the patient. The current recommendation is observation in stable patients with <15% pneumothorax and tube thoracostomy in patients with >15% pneumothorax. A 33-year-old woman presented to our ED complaining of right knee and right lateral chest wall pain after falling. Her breath sounds were reported as normal. A chest radiograph was ordered, which showed a large right-sided pneumothorax with tracheal deviation suggestive of a tension pneumothorax. The provider did not appreciate the pneumothorax at the time, and she was subsequently discharged home. The radiograph was over-read in the morning, and several attempts were made to recall the patient but were unsuccessful. Fortunately, the patient returned to the ED for an unrelated complaint approximately 1 month later, and the radiograph was repeated, confirming full resolution of the pneumothorax. She was not treated at another facility during that time. This is a typical manifestation of a traumatic pneumothorax but with an atypical course and outcome. It raises the question of whether, even in the case of traumatic pneumothorax, the threshold for placement of chest tubes could be reconsidered in stable patients.