ABSTRACT
Blunt chest trauma is a frequent finding in multiple trauma patients, with an incidence of approximately 25 per cent. Furthermore, chest injuries are associated with a mortality rate of up to 10 per cent, and they are responsible for 25 per cent of deaths in multiple trauma patients.1 The most frequent cause of blunt chest trauma is road accidents, followed by accidents at work, trauma related to falls, and gunshot or side-arm wounds. In general, isolated chest trauma does not require surgical intervention, as it can be managed by chest tube insertion, positive pressure ventilation, pain control and airway clearance.
