Thoracic Trauma
- #1 Cause of Accidental Death
- > 4MM Cases/Year Worldwide (World Health Orginization)
- 9%-20% of all Injury Cases in the Army
- Fatal, if not immediately identified, treated and reassessed for effective management in hospital
- Golden Hour: a casualty has a 80% chance of survival if he is evacuated to suitable medical facility within 1 hour
Main Types of Thoracic Trauma (any form of physical injury to the chest):
1. Blunt (motorvehicle collisions, falls)
2. Penetrating (stabbing, gun shots)
Results in: difficulties breathing, shifting of organs in thorax, lungs and heart collapse
Common difficulties in treatment:
1. Field conditions/cleaning of injury zone
2. Multiple injuries (diagnosis)
3. Time of treatment