The management of blunt chest trauma

Introduction. - Blunt chest trauma is a frequent injury and it can be difficult to evaluate its seriousness. The risk of acute decompensation because of an occult thoracic lesion is a significant and justified cause for concern. State of art. - As is common in the case of trauma to the torso, few studies are available to guide the development of structured recommendations about the diagnosis and management of such injuries. Perspectives. - The authors review the anatomical and physiological knowledge relevant to this kind of injury. They propose a standardized management for the diagnosis and emergency management of blunt chest trauma. Conclusions. - The management of blunt chest trauma should include a very systematic first evaluation to avoid diagnostic pitfalls and decrease the risk of subsequent respiratory failure. (C) 2011 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.