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All blows of a certain intensity, a fall or traffic accident may harm the rib cage (ribs, spine, sternum, scapula, etc.) and the vital organs protected inside. Symptoms and treatment vary depending on if the chest wall is affected or any internal organs have been injured. Generally, all chest trauma is associated with a potential life-threatening risk until additional tests are performed in a hospital that either rule the risk out or confirm it.
- Eric Legome, MD. Initial evaluation and management of blunt thoracic trauma in adults. UpToDate. Mar 29, 2016.
- Eric Legome, MD. Jean M Hammel, MD. Initial evaluation and management of chest wall trauma in adults. UpToDate. Sep 10, 2016.
- Fox N, Schwartz D, Salazar JH, et al. Evaluation and management of blunt traumatic aortic injury: a practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2015; 78:136.
- Mowery NT, Gunter OL, Collier BR, et al. Practice management guidelines for management of hemothorax and occult pneumothorax. J Trauma 2011; 70:510.
- Kea B, Gamarallage R, Vairamuthu H, et al. What is the clinical significance of chest CT when the chest x-ray result is normal in patients with blunt trauma. Am J Emerg Med 2013; 31:1268.
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
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