Trauma to the torso

Abstract

Injuries to the torso account for a large portion of deaths from trauma. Second only to death from central nervous system injury, hemorrhage accounts for 30%-40% of traumatic deaths.1,2 Most commonly, bleeding is secondary to injury to the chest or abdomen.3 Thoracic injury alone accounts for 20% to 25% of all trauma deaths, 4 most commonly caused by injury to the heart or great vessels. Minor injury to the thorax is common, including rib fracture, pneumothorax, and pulmonary contusion. Major abdominal injuries occur in approximately 25 % of severely injured patients and are often associated with multiple system injuries.5 © 2008 Springer New York.