Chest contusion
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| S20 | Superficial injury to the thorax |
| S20.2 | Contusion of the thorax |
| S29 | Other and unspecified injuries to the thorax |
| S29.0 | Injury to muscles and tendons at chest level |
| S29.7 | Multiple injuries to the thorax |
| S29.8 | Other specified injuries to the thorax |
| S29.9 | Unspecified injury to the thorax |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
Under a thorax contusion ( concussion thoracic ) is meant an injury to the chest ( thorax ), the blunt trauma (blunt chest trauma is caused). In contrast to a thoracic contusion ( contusio thoracis ), the bony structures (sternum, ribs and spine) and the organs within the thorax (especially the lungs and heart ) are not structurally damaged.
Symptoms
A chest contusion can be extremely painful. In particular, movements of the affected structures such as breathing, laughing and sneezing lead to considerable pain. These often last for several weeks, and it can take months to completely heal. In the clinical examination, the chest pressure and chest compression are painful.
Secondary pneumonia can occur as a result of pain-related breathing and the associated hypoventilation of individual lung sections . Often the patient takes a relieving posture to avoid painful movements.
diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually made as part of the clinical examination with the help of an accurate accident history . The clinical examination should not be limited to the thorax, but should also clarify possible other injuries and diseases. An X-ray or an ultrasound examination is necessary to exclude accompanying injuries (rib fractures) and to differentiate from a chest squeeze.
One of the most important differential diagnoses of chest pain is myocardial infarction . This must be clarified by means of an ECG, medical history and clinical examination.
Aim of therapy
The goals of therapy are to improve the patient's quality of life during the treatment phase, and to prevent secondary damage and pneumonia. For this purpose, a consistent, individually adapted pain therapy (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as well as other suitable measures such as physiotherapy , secretolytics and breathing exercises are used independently .
literature
- Gerlind Souza-Offermatt with the assistance of Jan Nolde and Michael J. Melullis: Intensive surgery course . Elsevier, Urban and Fischer, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-437-43490-X , p. 179.
- J. Grifka, J. Krämer: Orthopädie Unfallchirurgie , Springer, 2013, ISBN 978-3642288746 .
