[Thoracic traumatism in a specialized unit. Its epidemiology and morbimortality]

Two hundred forty-eight cases of thoracic trauma arriving at our hospital between 1990 and 1992 are analyzed in this report. Injuries were only thoracic in 29% of the cases. The remaining patients presented associated lesions, mainly in the extremities, followed by head injuries. Single or multiple rib fracture, in 193 (77.8%) patients, was the most frequent thoracic injury, followed by 94 (37.6%) cases of hemothorax and 80 (30.2%) instances of pneumothorax. Pulmonary contusion in 57 (22.9%) cases was a serious consequence with a mortality rate of 35.7%. Eighty six (34.6%) chest tube were placed and 14 (5.6%) thoracotomies were performed. Death occurred in 34 (13.7%) cases and was mainly related to the presence of associated injuries, in 29 (16.7%) patients as opposed to 5 (6.9%) (p < 0.05), and to pulmonary contusion in 20 (35.7%) patients vs. 13 (6.8%) (p < 0.001).