[A man with a painful sternum]
Marloes Dekkers1, Lars Brouwers, Anne M F Rutten
1St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis, Tilburg.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|September 17, 2015
Summary
A car accident caused blunt chest trauma in an 81-year-old man, resulting in multiple rib fractures and a fractured sternum. The diagnosis was floating sternum, with no cardiac contusion observed.
Area of Science:
- Traumatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Blunt chest trauma is a common injury resulting from accidents.
- Sternum fractures and rib fractures can occur independently or concurrently.
Observation:
- An 81-year-old male sustained blunt chest trauma from a motor vehicle accident.
- Initial trauma screening revealed multiple rib fractures and a sternum fracture.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with a floating sternum, a severe sternal instability.
- Despite the chest trauma, there was no evidence of cardiac contusion.
Implications:
- Floating sternum represents a significant chest wall injury requiring careful management.
- This case highlights the importance of thorough evaluation for associated injuries after severe chest trauma.
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