ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a 37-year-old male who injured his ribs during the impact and has been acutely short of breath since the injury. This patient has a traumatic right-sided pneumothorax. A pneumothorax is a collection of air within the pleural space. There are four categories to be aware of: primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP), secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP), traumatic pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax. Managing a traumatic pneumothorax should follow Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) principles including performing a full primary and secondary survey to assess for other associated injuries such as splenic lacerations as in this case with left-sided trauma. Most traumatic pneumothoraces are managed surgically with the insertion of a large caliber intercostal drain. This patient will also need counselling for his alcohol misuse and offered rehabilitation as well as nicotine, thiamine and chlordiazepoxide replacement to prevent delirium tremens whilst an inpatient.
