Herniation of chest contents can occur if there is a significant disruption of the chest wall.
Risk factors:
(1) massive high-energy force (automobile accident, fall, etc).
(2) use of a shoulder harness
Clinical features:
(1) There is a physical disruption of the chest wall.
(2) Lung tissue herniates through the defect, with the amount of tissue ranging from small to large.
(3) There may be a shift in thoracic structures depending on size of herniation.
(4) The presentation may be acute (large herniation) or delayed (small herniation).
Complications:
(1) infection (pneumonia, empyema)
(2) hypoxemia
(3) pneumothorax
(4) lung laceration
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Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Surgery, general, Cardiology
ICD-10: ,
