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10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2016.12749
Rib fracture posing risk for aortic rupture
Nesimi Günal1, Ekin Zorlu1, Tevfik Kaplan2, Koray Dural1, Berkant Özpolat1
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Faculty of Kırıkkale University, Kırıkkale, Turkey
2Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Faculty of Ufuk University, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2016.12749
A 50-year-old female patient was referred to emergency
department with findings of shortness of breath and flail
chest after a traffic accident. Her chest and abdomen
computed tomography scan showed left hemopneumothorax,
suspicious splenic bleeding, and multiple rib fractures. The
fractured edge of the left sixth rib was posing a laceration threat
against the descending aorta. After diagnostic laparotomy, left
thoracotomy was performed, the fractured rib edge was resected
before occurrence of any aortic injury, and the flail chest was
stabilized. This article aims to draw attention to the importance
of early intervention in posterior rib fractures posing injury
threat against aorta and explain the possible mechanism.
Keywords : Chest injuries; descending aorta; flail chest; rib fractures
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