Fatal Delayed Hemothorax after Simple Rib Fracture / 대한법의학회지
Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
;
: 56-59, 2017.
Article
in Korean
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-217845
ABSTRACT
We report the case of a 66-year-old man who died of fatal delayed hemothorax after blunt trauma to the chest. When the deceased was transferred to the hospital, his vital signs were stable; hence, medical attention was focused only on the fracture on right ankle. Three days after the orthopedic surgery, he became unsettled with symptoms similar to delirium and exhibited unstable vital signs; he then suddenly died. On autopsy, a beveled fracture was identified on the posterior aspect of the left second rib with hemothorax. It was because of a rupture in the intercostal artery at the fracture site that a simple fracture in a rib, following a blunt chest trauma can be a potentially life-threatening condition. We suggest that a meticulous examination should be performed at the rib fracture sites when a blunt trauma to the chest is suspected even when there are no internal organ injuries identified except hemothorax.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Orthopedics
/
Arteries
/
Rib Fractures
/
Ribs
/
Rupture
/
Autopsy
/
Thorax
/
Delirium
/
Vital Signs
/
Hemothorax
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
Korean
Journal:
Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
Year:
2017
Type:
Article
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