Chest Trauma 2 |

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Introduction
The patient presented by ambulance to the Emergency Department following a motor vehicle accident.

Imaging
There are a number of findings demonstrated on this image.
Chst Trauma



Answer

chest trauma

There are multiple rib fractures on the left (white arrows). Importantly, there is a fracture of the first rib on the left. There is associated subcutaneous emphysema. There is an abnormally wide clavicle companion shadow on the left of unknown significance.

There is subcutaneous emphysema on the right (grey arrow). There appears to be an adjacent rib fracture (bllack arrow). The left hemidiaphragm appears to be sharply marginated (it look too contrasty). This is known as "etched diaphragm" and is a result of air in the pleural space sited anteriorly adjacent to the diaphragm.


Summary
  • Bilateral subcutaneous emphysema
  • Bilateral rtib fractures
  • Etched Diaphragm on the left.



Other Imaging
The patient proceeded to CT.
CT chest Trauma There are bilateral pneumothoraces. Blood in both pleural spaces (grey arrow) seen posteriorly suggests that they there are actually bilateral haemopneumothoraces.

There is subcutaneous air ofn the right (white arrow).

There is a rib fracture on the left with a bone fragment extending into the pleural space. There is associated subcutaneous emphysema.



Anterior View
CT Chest 3D
Posterior View
Chest Trauma CT 3D
Multiple rib fractures deimstrated on the left (red arrows). A fracture of the right 4th rib is noted. .
? old fracture right 10th rib (white arrow)


Left Lateral View
Chest Trauma CT 3D
Right Lateral View
Chest Taruma CT3D
Multiple rib fractures (white arrows) Fractured right 4th and 5th ribs