Injury to the first rib synchondrosis in a rugby footballer.
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Injuries to the first rib synchondrosis are uncommon in sport. The potential for serious complications following posterior displacement is similar to that seen with posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation. Clinical examination and plain radiography may not provide a definitive diagnosis. Computerised tomography is the most appropriate imaging modality if this injury is suspected. Posterior dislocation of the first rib costal cartilage with an associated fracture of the posterior sternal aspect of the synchondrosis has not been previously reported. (+info)
Thoracic paravertebral block: radiological evidence of contralateral spread anterior to the vertebral bodies.
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We report contralateral spread of contrast medium anterior to the vertebral bodies after injection of contrast through a thoracic paravertebral catheter that was used to manage pain in a patient with multiple fractured ribs. We review the literature and propose that the anatomical basis for this observation is spread in the extrapleural compartment of the thoracic paravertebral space along the subserous fascial plane. (+info)
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in hypophosphataemic osteomalacia with femoral neck fracture: a case report.
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We report a male patient who presented with suspicion of skeletal metastases based upon an abnormal 99-mTc bone scan, which showed increased uptake at both femoral heads, left femoral neck, and several ribs. The images also suggested reflex sympathetic dystrophy, subcapital fracture of the left femur, and rib fractures. A diagnosis of hypophosphataemic osteomalacia was finally made. (+info)
First rib fracture: a hallmark of severe trauma.
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First rib fractures occurred in 55 patients. This injury is a harbinger of major trauma with 35 patients suffering a major chest injury, and abdominal and cardiac injuries occurring in 18 and eight patients respectively. The mortality associated with this injury was high (36.3%). Neurologic lesions accounted for the majority of deaths, however, unrecognized abdominal injuries and pulmonary complications were significant causes of mortality. Brachial plexus injury (5) and Horner's syndrome (3) occurred in survivors. Three patients had an associated injury of the subclavian artery, and the importance of this association is stressed. One late-developing post-traumatic thoracic outlet syndrome occurred. A fracture of the first rib is a hallmark of severe trauma; its presence should alert the clinician to: 1) generalized massive trauma with abdominal, chest, and cardiac injuries; 2) local injury to the subclavian artery and brachial plexus and; 3) necessity of long-term followup for late-developing sequelae. (+info)
Mitral valve plasty for mitral regurgitation after blunt chest trauma.
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A 21 year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of chest and back pain after blunt chest trauma. On admission, consciousness was clear and a physical examination showed labored breathing. Her vital signs were stable, but her breathing gradually worsened, and artificial respiration was started. The chest roentgenogram and a subsequent chest computed tomographic scans revealed contusions, hemothorax of the left lung and multiple rib fractures. A transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed normal left ventricular wall motion and mild mitral regurgitation (MR). TTE was carried out repeatedly, and revealed gradually progressive MR and prolapse of the posterior medial leaflet, although there was no congestive heart failure. After her general condition had recovered, surgery was performed. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed torn chordae at the posterior medial leaflet. The leaflet where the chorda was torn was cut and plicated, and posterior mitral annuloplasty was performed using a prosthetic ring. One month later following discharge, the MR had disappeared on TTE. (+info)
Ipsilateral thoraco-lumbar anaesthesia and paravertebral spread after low thoracic paravertebral injection.
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We report ipsilateral thoraco-lumbar anaesthesia and paravertebral spread of contrast after injection through a thoracic paravertebral catheter that was placed at the right T8-9 spinal level for pain management in a patient with multiple fractured ribs. We review the literature and describe the subendothoracic fascial communication between the thoracic paravertebral space and the retroperitoneal lumbar paravertebral region, which we propose, is the anatomical basis for ipsilateral thoraco-lumbar anaesthesia and paravertebral spread of contrast in our patient. (+info)
Rib fracture patterns and radiologic detection--a restraint-based comparison.
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This paper presents a study of the rib fracture patterns generated in simulated frontal collisions and the visibility of the rib fractures on plain film radiographs. Using 29 cadaver subjects, rib fractures were identified on oblique, lateral, and anteroposterior chest films by five radiologists independently and were compared with fractures found during a detailed necropsy. Physical, geometric, and experimental factors demonstrated an influence on the ability of a radiologist to identify rib fractures on an x-ray. Specifically, the restraint system configuration, the total number of fractures, the circumferential location of the fracture, the rib number, and the aspect (right or left) affected fracture identification. The results verify that torso belt loading produces rib fractures generally located along the path of the belt whereas superimposed airbag loading results in a more distributed and posterolateral fracture pattern. A higher proportion of rib fractures was identified on x-ray for occupants restrained by only a belt (44% of fractures) than for occupants restrained by both a belt and an airbag (24% of fractures). Overall, less than 40% of the rib fractures were detected upon an initial examination of radiographs. After being provided with the location of all fractures, detection increased to 49%. On average, occult rib fractures resulted in an average underreporting of injury severity of more than one AIS level. (+info)
Driver and right-front passenger restraint system interaction, injury potential, and thoracic injury prediction.
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Restrained driver and right-front passenger kinematics and injury outcome in frontal collisions are compared using FARS data and human cadaver sled tests. The FARS data indicate that a frontal airbag may provide greater benefit for a passenger than for a driver. The thoracic injuries sustained by passenger subjects restrained by a force-limited, pretensioned belt and airbag are evaluated, and kinematics are compared to driver-side subjects. The injury-predictive ability of existing thoracic injury criteria is evaluated for passenger-side occupants. Driver and passenger kinematic differences are identified and the implications are discussed. The chest acceleration of the passenger-side subjects exhibited a bimodal profile with an initial (and global) maximum before the subject loaded the airbag. A second acceleration peak occurred as the subject loaded both the belt and the airbag. A similarly restrained driver-side subject loaded the belt and airbag concurrently at the time of peak chest acceleration and therefore did not exhibit this bimodal chest acceleration. (+info)