Intrathoracic tracheal rupture following blunt chest trauma

Intrathoracic tracheal rupture following closed chest trauma is a potentially lethal injury which can be successfully repaired if the diagnosis is made early. Dyspnoea, mediastinal emphysema and pneumothorax which do not respond to intercostal tube drainage should alert the clinician to the possibility of intrathoracic tracheal rupture. A case is described. A 17-year-old boy sustained two longitudinal lacerations of the membranous portion of the intrathoracic trachea in association with blunt chest trauma. The diagnosis was delayed because of coexisting head injury. The tracheal lacerations were successfully repaired via a right thoracotomy. The principles of management in such injuries are reviewed.