A clinical evaluation of 76 chest injuries

흉부손상 76례에 대한 임상적 관찰

A clinical evaluation was performed on 76 cases of chest injury experienced at department of Chest Surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital during the past 3 years period from January 1981 to August 1983. 1.The most common cause of the chest trauma was gun shot by which 26 cases were injured among 44 cases [57.9%] of penetrating injury. Remaining 32 cases [42.1%] were injured by non-penetrating blunt trauma. 2.Hemopneumothorax was observed in 60 cases [78.9%], those were caused by both penetrating [65%] and non-penetrating [35%] injuries. 3.Rib fracture was found in 58.7% of total cases and with rib fracture, clavicle fracture was combined at 19.6% and sternal fracture, at 8.7%. 4.Most common symptoms were chest pain and dyspnea, and most common signs were breath sound diminution and subcutaneous emphysema. 5.Common site of rib fracture was from 4th rib to 8th rib [69.4%]. 6.In 58 cases [76.3%], patients were treated with operation including open thoracotomy [25 cases]. 7.Overall mortality was 5.3%[4 cases] and causes of death were septic shock and respiratory failure.