Thoracic Trauma: Analysis of 440 Cases

Aim: Trauma still has a significant place among the reasons for death before the age of 40.This study analyzed the cases with thoracic trauma that were monitored at our center in a period of eight years. Material and Method:The study was conducted with 440 patients over the age of 16 (385 male, 55 female, mean age of 43.2 with a range of 17-89) who were treated at our center due to thoracic trauma in the period of 2011-2017.The patients were examined in terms of their age, sex, trauma etiology, clinical signs, accompanying injuries, surgery indications, applied surgical interventions, complications that occurred and mortality.Results: Three hundred and eighty five (87.5%) of our cases were male, 55 (12.5%) were female, and their mean age was 43.7 (17-89).While 202 (58.6%) of our cases with blunt thoracic trauma had isolated trauma, 143 (41.4%) had multiple traumas.88 (92.6%) of our cases with penetrating thoracic trauma had isolated trauma, whereas there were multiple injuries in seven (7.4%).The reasons for blunt thoracic traumas were motor vehicle accidents, falling from a height, battery and injuries caused by cattle.Penetrating thoracic traumas were caused by firearms and injuries by sharp and pointed objects.Single and multiple rib fractures were the most frequent among bone structure injuries in the thorax.Pneumothorax had the first place among intrathoracic injuries.The most frequently applied surgical method for treatment was tube thoracostomy, while sternotomy was the least frequently applied method.Conclusion: The most significant accompanying problem that increases mortality in thoracic traumas are organ injuries.A patient with trauma should be systematically examined very fast, and unnecessary tests should be avoided.