Thoracic Injuries Flashcards
What is the anatomy of the thoracic cavity?
Sternum
Ribs (1-7 true ribs, 8-10 false ribs, 11 attached to costal cartilage, 12-13 floating ribs)
Costal Cartilage
Thoracic Vertebrae
Muscles in thoracic cavity?
Pectoralis Major
Serratus Anterior (assist with breathing)
Latissimus Dorsi
Internal and External Intercostals (raising and depressing rib cage for breathing)
Costochondral Injuries?
costochondritis/sprain
caused by twisting or blunt trauma
will cause breathing pain
Sternum Fracture:
caused by a direct blow
causes pain with breathing
point tender
activate EMS
Rib Fracture?
blunt trauma, non displaced fx more common
painful breathing, coughing
If multiple ribs fractured: activate EMS
Management with rib fx:
DO NOT WRAP WITH ACE WRAP!
ribcage can’t expand enough, will cause fluid to drain into pleural cavity, can cause pneumonia
What is pneumothorax?
air is trapped in pleural space
spontaneous: no cause
non-spontaneous: rib injury
Signs of rib fx?
difficulty breathing
chest pain
anxiety
low BP
Hemothorax?
blood in the pleural cavity
assoc. with rib fx
ACTIVATE EMS!
Signs of hemothorax:
coughing up frothy blood
shock signs
difficulty breathing
What is cardiac tamponade?
blood enters sac around the heart
limits the ability of the heart, can cause cardiac/respiratory arrest.
ACTIVATE EMS***
What causes cardiac tamponade?
massive blunt trauma to chest
What is a side stitch?
Basically a cramp - no known cause to cramping
stretch to relieve
Name viscera:
Spleen Liver Kidneys Intestines Stomach Bladder
Name abdominal muscles:
Transverse abdominis Internal oblique external oblique rectus abdominis
