Chest injuries

Trauma to the chest can be open (injured) and closed (fractures of the sternum or ribs, squeezing, bruises).

Damage to the closed type is accompanied in some cases with damage to the organs (heart, esophagus, lungs). The causes of chest injuries can become squeezing (typical for transport accidents), impacts, falls. Such damage often occurs in combination with damage to other anatomical areas of the body. Mostly, it concerns the limbs, there are fewer head injuries.

The fatal danger that accompanies the trauma of the chest is primarily associated with impaired respiratory function or with severe blood circulation disorder.

When squeezing, there are swelling of the face, pinpoint hemorrhages on the skin of the neck, face, mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes. In addition, general weakness, nasal bleeding, hemoptysis appear. These symptoms can also occur while maintaining the integrity of internal organs.

Rib fractures are very painful. The risk of acute respiratory failure increases with the number of damaged ribs. Painful sensations are manifested both in palpation and in minor movements, in particular during breathing. Fractures of the ribs are characterized by a characteristic position of the patient's body, inclined to the painful side. With multiple rib injuries, the deformity of the chest can be clearly manifested . Multiple injuries, as a rule, are accompanied by an acute lack of breathing.

Open chest injuries (injuries) are accompanied by pain and bleeding at the site of injury. In this case, the patient's general condition is satisfactory, there is no violation of breathing.

Wounds, accompanied by a defeat of the heart, in many cases lead to death. With heart damage, as a rule, the pleura is also disturbed. This requires urgent hospitalization in the intensive care unit, thoracic or surgical department.

Injuries of the musculoskeletal system involve examination of the patient, palpation, determination of pain sensitivity and movement in the joints. According to the results of the patient's survey, the possible severity of the lesion and its localization is established. An external examination reveals the presence of characteristic wounds, deformations on the body, abrasions, swelling, bruising.

In a number of cases, bone fractures are complicated by a lesion of the neurovascular bundle. In such cases, it is necessary to determine the viability of the injured limb, depending on the state of the circulation. It is determined by the temperature and color of the skin, as well as by vascular pulsation. The temperature of the damaged and healthy limb is compared with the help of the back surface of the brush.

Quite often an Achilles tendon injury is observed . Damage is a tear or strain at the point of attachment to the heel bone or near it. As practice shows, such damage is the result of numerous injuries in this area in the past. Damage, mainly, occurs due to ignoring the manifestation of the first symptoms. As a rule, the inflammatory processes in the tendon are accompanied by a long, but insignificant discomfort. In this case, there is an episodic manifestation of symptoms (occur during periods of stress and pass into rest). It should be noted that with the development of chronic inflammation, the strength of the fibers is significantly reduced, and in the areas of minor tears there are scars, which causes a decrease in the elasticity of the fibers. In turn, at one sharp movement in the subsequent there can be a full separation.