An Analytic Study of Blunt Chest Trauma

Abstract

Background: Thoracic injury is a common cause of mortality and maior disability. Fortunately, the vast majonty of chest trauma can be conservatively managed. This retrospective study was carried out to determine the magni bude of the condition, and the management of patients with blunt chest trauma at our center. Methods: The records were reviewed of 163 patients seen at Al-Thora Teaching Hospital in El-Beida, Libya from October 2008 to December 2016. Demographic data, etioloev, mechanism and pattern of injury, associated injury management, and outcome data were analyzed. Results: The data analysis showed that: chest trauma predominated among males with a percentage of 77.96 relative to the female group whose percentage was 22.1%. The commonest causes of chest trauma were road traffic accidents (RTA) representing 85.9%. The most frequent iniury was rib fracture (78.5%). Intercostal tube thoracostomy was the only therapy required in 71 patients 43.6%, whereas 78 patients (21.2%) had had conser Vative management, and only 14 patients (8.694 underwent thoracotomy. Mortality occurred in 9 patients (5.5%). Conclusions: The study revealed that, road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the main cause of blunt chest trauma, mainly affecting young males. Mostly they required no invasive therapy or, at the most chest tube thoracostomy.