[Thoracic trauma in childhood. Radiologic findings]

In childhood blunt trauma to the chest wall is more frequent than penetrating injuries. Most of these are the result of traffic accidents. Solitary or serial rib fractures are seen more often than fractures of the sternum. Complications of thoracic injuries are pulmonary contusion, hemothorax and, less frequently, pneumothorax. Pulmonary contusion can result in post-traumatic pneumatocele or chronic pulmonary hematoma. Injuries of the heart, the great vessels and bronchotracheal rupture, presenting initially with pneumothorax, followed by atelectasis, rarely occur. Blunt thoracic trauma is frequently associated with further injuries (head and/or blunt abdominal trauma). The prognosis also depends on the concurrent injuries. The initial evaluation of an injured child is based on the chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasound examination. Additional information can be obtained by a CT scan in mediastinal injuries.