A 50-year-old woman fell from a horse and was transported to our emergency room. At physical examination, no respiratory, circulatory or neurological problems were present. However, the patient had lacerations and tenderness to palpation across the left hemithorax.

Participation

At initial interpretation: fractures of the ventral portion of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th ribs of the left hemithorax without evidence of other thoracic injuries.

Requirements

MDCT confirmed (1) rib fractures of the left hemithorax (arrows) However, MDCT also demonstrated a ventral pneumothorax of the left lung with pulmonary contusion, (2) pleural fluid suggestive for haemorrhage (asterisk), and contusion of the left mamma. In retrospect, the chest X-ray already suggested the presence of a haemothorax and contusion of the mamma (opacification of the left lung).

Extraexaminations

No EXTRA EXAMINATIONS for this particular case.

Requirements

Trauma patient with rib fractures and associated injury: pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, and haemothorax.

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