Emergency department management of pediatric blunt thoracic injuries

Abstract

Pediatric chest trauma can present with a wide array of symptoms and with varying rates of morbidity and mortality. Children have unique thoracic anatomical and physiological characteristics, often necessitating diagnostic and management considerations that differ from management of blunt chest injury in adults. This review discusses diagnostic and treatment modalities for commonly encountered injuries in pediatric blunt thoracic trauma, such as pulmonary contusions, rib fractures, pneumothoraces, and hemothoraces. Rarely encountered but high-mortality injuries, including blunt cardiac injury, commotio cordis, tracheobronchial injury, and aortic injury, are also discussed.