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. 2020 Jul 16;8(11):2300-2301.
doi: 10.1002/ccr3.3113. eCollection 2020 Nov.

Seatbelt-induced extrathoracic lung herniation

Dimitrios Kitridis  1 , Theodoros Karaiskos  2 , Byron Chalidis  1 , Nikiforos Galanis  1 , Panagiotis Givissis  1
Affiliations

Seatbelt-induced extrathoracic lung herniation

Dimitrios Kitridis et al. Clin Case Rep. .

Abstract

Traumatic lung herniation is an uncommon complication of blunt chest trauma due to seatbelt injury. High index of suspicion, adherence to ATLS guidelines, and cooperation between different surgical specialties for the prompt stabilization of flail chest and primary or prosthetic closure of the defect may ensure a favorable outcome.

Keywords: cardiothoracic surgery; emergency medicine; flail chest; orthopedics.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest associated with this publication, and there has been no financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT scan images of the patient's chest showing large left parasternal lung herniation (yellow arrow), costochondral disruptions (blue arrow), and a small left hemothorax (red arrow)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intraoperative images showing the lung herniation (black arrow) under the subcutaneous fat (A), the reapproximation of the costal cartilages with wires (blue arrows) and the fixation of the ribs with reconstruction plates and screws (black arrows) (B)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Postoperative radiograph showing the second and third costal cartilages approximated with sternal wires, and the fourth and fifth ribs fixed with reconstruction plates and screws
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Rice D, Bikkasani N, Espada R, Mattox K, Wall M. Seat belt‐related chondrosternal disruption with lung herniation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;73(6):1950‐1951. - PubMed
    1. Khalil MW, Masala N, Waller DA, Cardillo G. Surgical repair of post‐traumatic lung hernia using a video‐assisted open technique. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2008;7(3):506‐507. - PubMed

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