Lung

Flail Chest

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Flail Chest

  • Definitions
  1. Flail Chest
    1. Paradoxical chest wall movement due to 3 or more contiguous anterior and posterio Rib Fractures
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Chest Trauma resulting in 2 or more contiguous Rib Fractures at 2 or more sites along each rib
  2. Results in paradoxical chest wall movement
  3. Associated with other lung injury (Lung Contusion, pain with Splinting and Atelectasis)
    1. Results in hypoventilation and Hypoxia
  • Precautions
  • Pitfalls
  1. Flail Chest may initially be missed due to patient Splinting with shallow breathing
  2. Chest wall palpation is critical during the Trauma Secondary Survey
  • Signs
  1. Respiratory Rate increased (Tachypnea)
  2. Oxygen Saturation decreased (Hypoxia)
  3. Palpable chest wall deformity
    1. Significant pain on palpation of chest wall in vicinity of flail segment
  • Labs
  1. Consider Venous Blood Gas or Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
  • Imaging
  1. See Rib Fracture
  • Associated Conditions
  1. Lung Contusion
  2. Pneumothorax
  3. Atelectasis (due to Splinting)
  4. Secondary Pneumonia risk
    1. See Rib Fracture
  • Management
  1. See Primary Trauma Survey
  2. See Secondary Trauma Survey
  3. See ABC Management
  4. Risk of cardiopulmonary collapse (depending on associated injuries and reserve)
  5. Stabilize flail segment
  6. Supplemental Oxygen
  7. Pain management
    1. Narcotic Analgesics (e.g. Dilaudid or Morphine Sulfate)
    2. Consider intercostal Nerve Block
    3. Consider intrapleural or extrapleural Anesthesia
    4. Consider Epidural Anesthesia
  8. Consider Endotracheal Intubation
    1. Indicated for Respiratory Failure
  • References
  1. Dreis (2020) Crit Dec Emerg Med 34(7):3-21
  2. (2012) ATLS, ACOS, Chicago, p. 99