%0 Journal Article
%T Thoracic hyperextension injury with complete ¡°bony disruption¡± of the thoracic cage: Case report of a potentially life-threatening injury
%A James Bailey
%A Todd VanderHeiden
%A Clay Cothren Burlew
%A Sarah Pinski-Sibbel
%A Janeen Jordan
%A Ernest E Moore
%A Philip F Stahel
%J World Journal of Emergency Surgery
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1749-7922-7-14
%X We report the successful management of a 55-year old man who sustained a complete ¡°bony disruption¡± of the thoracic cage secondary to an ¡°all-terrain vehicle¡± roll-over accident. The injury pattern consisted of a bilateral ¡°flail chest¡± with serial segmental rib fractures, bilateral hemo-pneumothoraces and pulmonary contusions, bilateral midshaft clavicle fractures, a displaced transverse sternum fracture with significant diastasis, and an unstable T9 hyperextension injury. After initial life-saving procedures, the chest wall injuries were sequentially stabilized by surgical fixation of bilateral clavicle fractures, locked plating of the displaced sternal fracture, and a two-level anterior spine fixation of the T9 hyperextension injury. The patient had an excellent radiological and physiological outcome at 6£¿months post injury.Severe chest wall trauma with a complete ¡°bony disruption¡± of the thoracic cage represents a rare, but detrimental injury pattern. Multidisciplinary management with a staged timing for addressing each of the critical injuries, represents the ideal approach for an excellent long-term outcome.
%U http://www.wjes.org/content/7/1/14/abstract