Identification

Thoracic Injuries II Flail Chest Identification

Fig 1. *A 3D reconstruction from a CT scan showing a flail chest via Wikimedia*

Identification is by palpation as well as inspection.

A CXR might identify associated pneumothorax, haemothorax and pulmonary contusions (see the image below – click for a larger version). The appearance of early pulmonary contusions is particularly worrying, and evidence of further and perhaps more extensive contusions with physiological effect may evolve.

Fig 2: Pulmonary contusions

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