%0 Journal Article
%T Thoracic hyperextension injury with complete "bony disruption" of the thoracic cage: Case report of a potentially life-threatening injury
%J World journal of emergency surgery
%D 2012
%A Bailey, James
%A Vanderheiden, Todd
%A Burlew, Clay Cothren
%A Pinski-Sibbel, Sarah
%A Jordan, Janeen
%A Moore, Ernest E.
%A Stahel, Philip F.
%V 7
%N 1
%P 14-14
%X BACKGROUND: Severe chest wall injuries are potentially life-threatening injuries which require a standardized multidisciplinary management strategy for prevention of posttraumatic complications and adverse outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the successful management of a 55-year old man who sustained a complete "bony disruption" of the thoracic cage secondary to an "all-terrain vehicle" roll-over accident. The injury pattern consisted of a bilateral "flail chest" with serial segmental rib fractures, bilateral hemo-pneumothoraces and pulmonary contusions, bilateral midshaft clavicle fractures, a displaced transverse sternum fracture with significant diastasis, and an unstable T9 hyperextension injury. After initial life-saving procedures, the chest wall injuries were sequentially stabilized by surgical fixation of bilateral clavicle fractures, locked plating of the displaced sternal fracture, and a two-level anterior spine fixation of the T9 hyperextension injury. The patient had an excellent radiological and physiological outcome at 6 months post injury. CONCLUSION: Severe chest wall trauma with a complete "bony disruption" of the thoracic cage represents a rare, but detrimental injury pattern. Multidisciplinary management with a staged timing for addressing each of the critical injuries, represents the ideal approach for an excellent longterm outcome.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC
%@ 1749-7922
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1749-7922-7-14