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Case Reports
. 2013 Mar-Apr;48(2):277-81.
doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-48.1.11. Epub 2013 Feb 20.

Pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in an 11-year-old rugby player: a case report

Valentina Vanzo  1 , Samuela Bugin, Deborah Snijders, Laura Bottecchia, Veronica Storer, Angelo Barbato
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in an 11-year-old rugby player: a case report

Valentina Vanzo et al. J Athl Train. 2013 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium are rare occurrences in young athletes, but they can result in potentially life-threatening consequences.

Background: While involved in a rugby match, an 11-year-old boy received a chest compression by 3 players during a tackle. He continued to play, but 2 hours later, he developed sharp retrosternal chest pain. A chest radiograph and an echocardiograph at the nearest emergency department showed pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum.

Differential diagnosis: Sternal and rib contusions, rib fractures, heartburn, acute asthma exacerbation, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, pneumothorax, traumatic tracheal rupture, myocardial infarction, and costochondritis (Tietze syndrome).

Treatment: Acetaminophen for pain control.

Uniqueness: To our knowledge, this is the only case in the international literature of the simultaneous occurrence of pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in a child as a consequence of blunt chest trauma during a rugby match.

Conclusions: Pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium may be consequences of rugby blunt chest trauma. Symptoms can appear 1 to 2 hours later, and the conditions may result in serious complications. Immediate admission to the emergency department is required.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Anteroposterior chest radiograph shows gas outlining the inner surface of the mediastinal pleura (white arrows) and a thin band of gas between the heart and diaphragm (continuous diaphragm sign; black arrow).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Diagnostic flow chart for the evaluation of chest pain after blunt thoracic trauma in children.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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