What is the most likely diagnosis?
- 34 year-old in motor vehicle rollover accident
Close-up of Frontal Supine Chest Radiograph
- Pneumonia
- Clavicular fracture
- Pulmonary embolism
- Flail chest
- Air Embolism
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Additional Images
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Answer:
4. Flail chest
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Flail chest
General Considerations
- Segment of thoracic cage is separated from remainder of chest wall by significant blunt chest trauma
- Relatively uncommon, but potentially life-threatening
- Definition varies from two fractures per rib for two contiguous ribs to two fractures per rib for three contiguous ribs
- Sternum may also be involved with ribs on both sides of chest
- Severity of underlying lung and cardiac injury are clinically more important than fractures themselves