Abstract

Objectives: Thoracic injuries occur in approximately 25-30% of all trauma cases. Among these, 70% is blunt trauma and 30% is penetrating trauma. We presented our clinical experience with penetrating thoracic trauma patients in the last 13 years.

Patients and Methods: We retrospectively assessed 200 cases of penetrating thoracic trauma (184 males (%92), 16 females (%8); mean age 27.4 years; range 11 to 80 years) urgently hospitalized at our clinic between 1995-2008.

Results: In 153 (76.5%) cases sharp penetrating trauma and in 47 (23.5%) patients gunshot wounds were seen. Intrapleural pathology was found in 174 (87%) cases and extrathoracic organ injury was found in nine cases. Surgical treatment included chest tube thoracostomy in 173 (86.5%) cases and other conservative treatment methods were applied in 27 (13.5%) cases. Thoracotomy was required in 39 (19.5%) of the cases. The morbidity rate was 7.5% and mortality rate was 0.5%.

Conclusion: In penetrating thoracic trauma cases, except emergency thoracotomy patients, conservative treatment methods are applied in most of the patients. Trauma with intrathoracic organ injury increases the mortality and morbidity, and requires fast and well-organized multidisciplinary approach.