Flail chest
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At the time the article was created Alexandra Stanislavsky had no recorded disclosures.
View Alexandra Stanislavsky's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures- Flail segment
- Flail thoracic segment
- flail sternum
Flail chest or flail thoracic segment implies paradoxical motion of a segment of chest wall during respiration due to multiple rib fractures. Definitions vary; radiologists apply the term when three or more contiguous ribs are fractured in two or more places. Clinically, a segment of only one or two ribs can act as a flail segment especially if the fractures are displaced.
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Clinical presentation
Ventilatory difficulty following trauma with paradoxical movement of the flail segment; occasionally clinically occult 4,5.
Pathology
A flail chest is a marker for chest trauma severity and is commonly associated with other thoracic injuries which can contribute to respiratory insufficiency, such as 1,2,5:
Bilateral anterior rib or costal cartilage fractures can give rise to a flail sternum.
Rarely the flail segment of the chest wall may collapse inwards, causing stove-in chest which is associated with even higher morbidity and mortality 7.
Aetiology
Flail chest is most commonly caused by high-impact blunt thoracic trauma and severe anteroposterior compression which is typically the result of motor vehicle accidents, blast injuries or crush injuries 5.
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Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
A chest x-ray is less sensitive than CT for the diagnosis of flail segments 4:
defined as ≥3 adjacent ribs with segmental fractures and/or >5 adjacent rib fractures
1st rib fractures are a marker of severe chest trauma. as this rib is protected by the clavicle and scapula. First rib fractures are associated with a10% incidence of aortic transection and a 2% incidence of bronchial tear
costal hook sign: elephant trunk-shaped ribs owing to rotation of segmental fractures
Treatment and prognosis
Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation through a well-fitting mask with oxygen supplementation is often sufficient and has fewer iatrogenic complications. Atelectasis, pneumonia and ARDS are common complications.
Patients who undergo mechanical ventilation and surgical fixation have higher morbidity and mortality rates.
Differential diagnosis
rib fracture(s) without flail segment
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Kaewlai R, Avery LL, Asrani AV et-al. Multidetector CT of blunt thoracic trauma. Radiographics. 2008;28 (6): 1555-70. doi:10.1148/rg.286085510 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Borman JB, Aharonson-daniel L, Savitsky B et-al. Unilateral flail chest is seldom a lethal injury. Emerg Med J. 2006;23 (12): 903-5. doi:10.1136/emj.2006.037945 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 3. Igai H, Kamiyoshihara M, Nagashima T et-al. Rib fixation for severe chest deformity due to multiple rib fractures. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013;18 (5): 458-61. Pubmed citation
- 4. Emergency Radiology Cases (Cases in Radiology). Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN:0199941173. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Parker M, Rosado-de-Christenson M. Teaching Atlas of Chest Imaging. TNY. ISBN:B005OCNCTK. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 6. Todd SR, McNally MM, Holcomb JB et-al. A multidisciplinary clinical pathway decreases rib fracture-associated infectious morbidity and mortality in high-risk trauma patients. Am. J. Surg. 2006;192 (6): 806-11. doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.08.048 - Pubmed citation
- 7. Bloomer R, Willett K, Pallister I. The stove-in chest: a complex flail chest injury. (2004) Injury. 35 (5): 490-3. doi:10.1016/S0020-1383(03)00291-2 - Pubmed
- 8. Féray S, Blayau C, Masmoudi H et al. Surgical and Perioperative Management of Flail Chest with Titanium Plates: A French Cohort Series from a Thoracic Referral Center. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2023;18(1):37. doi:10.1186/s13019-023-02121-8 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
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- Blunt chest trauma
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- Multitrauma
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