Abstract
Thoracic injury in children deserves special attention because, although it accounts
for less than 10% of traumatic injuries in children, there is a significant associated
morbidity and mortality. This review discusses the anatomic and physiologic factors
resulting in such injury severity with blunt thoracic trauma in children. Specific
organ injuries, including most common chest wall injuries, hemo- and pneumothoraces,
and pulmonary parenchymal injuries, are discussed, encompassing epidemiology, presentation,
diagnosis, and management. Rare injuries including tracheobronchial tree injuries,
cardiovascular injuries, esophageal injuries, and diaphragmatic injuries are also
briefly discussed.
Keywords
thoracic trauma - chest trauma - pulmonary injury - children
