Chest Trauma Diagnosis: A Comprehensive Guide for Automotive Repair Experts

Introduction

Understanding Chest Trauma in Automotive Repair Context

While seemingly distant from automotive repair, understanding chest trauma, particularly its diagnosis, is crucial for professionals at xentrydiagnosis.store, a website dedicated to automotive diagnostics and repair. The expertise in systematic troubleshooting, diagnostic procedures, and understanding complex systems directly translates to comprehending medical diagnostic processes. This article provides an in-depth look into Chest Trauma Diagnosis, mirroring the detailed diagnostic approach used in automotive repair, thereby enhancing the analytical skills of our readers.

Chest trauma is a significant medical emergency arising from injuries to the chest, ranging from minor bruising to severe organ damage. Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), a common cause of car damage requiring expert repair, are also a leading cause of chest trauma.[1] In fact, chest trauma ranks as the second most frequent unintentional injury and the third leading cause of death in polytrauma patients.[1, 2] Alarmingly, studies reveal mortality rates as high as 60% in chest trauma cases, underscoring the critical need for rapid and accurate diagnosis and intervention.[2] Similar to diagnosing a complex automotive issue, understanding the mechanism of injury—whether blunt or penetrating—is the first critical step in chest trauma diagnosis and management. Prompt identification of life-threatening conditions like tension pneumothorax and hemothorax is paramount, mirroring the urgency of diagnosing critical car malfunctions. Just as automotive repair requires a coordinated team, optimal patient outcomes in chest trauma hinge on the collaborative efforts of emergency clinicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensive care specialists.

This article aims to equip readers with a comprehensive understanding of chest trauma diagnosis, enhancing their analytical and systematic approach to problem-solving, skills directly applicable to complex automotive diagnostics. We will explore the diagnostic pathways, imaging techniques, and crucial steps in identifying and managing chest trauma, drawing parallels to the meticulous diagnostic processes employed in automotive repair.

Anatomy of the Thoracic Region: A Diagnostic Perspective

Just as a mechanic needs to understand the intricate anatomy of a car engine, a grasp of thoracic anatomy is fundamental for effective chest trauma diagnosis. The thoracic cage, composed of the sternum, ribs, and thoracic vertebrae, provides structural integrity and protection to vital organs, analogous to a car chassis protecting its components. The mediastinum, the central compartment of the chest cavity, houses critical structures such as the heart, major blood vessels, trachea, and esophagus, similar to the engine bay containing the car’s core systems. The lungs, the primary organs of respiration, reside within the pleural cavities and are responsible for gas exchange, akin to a car’s exhaust system managing gas exchange. The heart, centrally located, pumps blood throughout the body, mirroring the fuel pump ensuring fuel circulation in a car.

The great vessels, including the aorta, pulmonary artery, vena cava, and pulmonary veins, facilitate systemic and pulmonary circulation, comparable to the network of hoses and pipes in a car’s cooling and fuel systems. The trachea and bronchial tree conduct air to the lungs, branching into bronchioles and alveoli for gas exchange, similar to the air intake and filter system of a car engine. The diaphragm, separating the chest and abdomen, aids in respiration, acting like a piston in an engine. The esophagus, adjacent to the trachea, transports food to the stomach. The pleural space, between the visceral and parietal pleura, normally contains lubricating fluid for smooth lung movement, analogous to lubrication in engine parts. The visceral pleura covers the lung surface, while the parietal pleura lines the thoracic cavity, providing structural support.

Intercostal nerves in intercostal spaces provide sensory and motor innervation to the thoracic wall, like wiring harnesses in a car. Phrenic nerves, originating from cervical spinal nerves, innervate the diaphragm and regulate breathing. The vagus nerve innervates thoracic structures, regulating vital functions, similar to a car’s central control unit. The sympathetic chain, alongside the vertebral column, provides sympathetic innervation, and splanchnic nerves extend to abdominal viscera, transmitting signals between thoracic and abdominal regions. The recurrent laryngeal nerve, a branch of the vagus nerve, innervates laryngeal muscles, crucial for airway protection and vocalization. Understanding this anatomy is as crucial for chest trauma diagnosis as understanding automotive anatomy is for effective car repair.

Etiology of Chest Trauma: Blunt vs. Penetrating

Chest trauma, much like car damage, arises from various causes, broadly categorized as blunt or penetrating. Blunt trauma, more common in chest injuries, results from kinetic energy transfer to the chest, causing damage at the point of impact and potentially distant sites. This is similar to damage from a car crash where impact forces can ripple through the vehicle structure. Penetrating trauma, on the other hand, involves direct tissue penetration by objects, with the severity related to the projectile’s velocity, analogous to damage from sharp objects impacting a car. Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the leading cause of both chest trauma and significant vehicle damage. MVCs are also the primary cause of acute traumatic aortic injuries. Crushing or deceleration forces are the main mechanisms behind cardiac injuries in chest trauma, mirroring the impact and deceleration forces in car accidents. Open pneumothorax is often associated with gunshot injuries, a less frequent but severe cause of chest trauma. Understanding whether the trauma is blunt or penetrating is crucial for guiding diagnostic and treatment strategies, just as understanding the nature of car damage (collision, dent, puncture) guides the repair process.

Epidemiology: The Prevalence of Chest Trauma

Chest trauma is a prevalent injury affecting individuals across all age groups, similar to the widespread nature of vehicle damage. The 2016 Pediatric Report of the National Trauma Data Bank highlighted chest injuries as having the highest fatality rate among body regions in children, emphasizing the vulnerability of younger populations, much like certain car models might be more prone to specific issues. MVCs are the most common cause of these fatal conditions in both chest trauma and severe car accidents. Pulmonary contusion is more prevalent in children compared to rib fractures, indicating different injury patterns in different demographics, similar to how different car types exhibit varying damage profiles in accidents. Pneumothorax occurs in approximately 30% of chest trauma cases, representing a significant portion of chest injuries. Recent data indicates that a substantial 36% of trauma deaths in the United States are potentially preventable, highlighting the importance of timely and effective diagnosis and management in chest trauma, mirroring the importance of preventative car maintenance to avoid breakdowns. Thoracic injuries contribute to 41% of these preventable deaths, with blunt trauma being the primary mechanism (80-92%). Delayed treatment, inadequate management, and treatment errors are major contributors to preventable deaths in chest trauma, emphasizing the need for expert and timely intervention, just as in car repair. Geriatric patients face higher mortality rates compared to younger individuals with similar chest injuries, highlighting age-related vulnerabilities, similar to older cars being more susceptible to certain failures. Older patients with a single rib fracture have twice the mortality compared to younger counterparts with the same injury, and mortality increases by 19% and pneumonia risk by 27% for each additional rib fracture, demonstrating the compounding effect of injury severity, much like multiple car damages are harder to repair. Children are more susceptible to hypoxia when their functional reserve is depleted, indicating specific physiological considerations in pediatric chest trauma.

Pathophysiology: How Chest Trauma Affects the Body

Blunt and Penetrating Trauma Mechanisms

Thoracic injury pathophysiology, like understanding the mechanics of car damage, is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment. As previously discussed, chest trauma is classified as blunt or penetrating. Blunt trauma transfers kinetic energy, causing damage at the impact site and potentially to distant organs. Penetrating trauma directly transfers energy to tissues, with damage severity related to projectile velocity. Impairments to the chest wall, musculature, or gas exchange mechanisms directly impact breathing, much like damage to a car’s chassis, engine, or exhaust system affects its performance.

Pneumothorax: Air in the Pleural Space

Pneumothorax, the accumulation of air in the pleural space due to a breach in the visceral or parietal pleura, leads to lung collapse, causing chest pain and breathing difficulty. This is analogous to a tire puncture leading to deflation and impaired vehicle mobility. Tension pneumothorax occurs when a “flutter valve” forms, allowing unidirectional airflow into the pleural space, increasing pleural gas volume and pressure, a critical and rapidly worsening condition. Open pneumothorax occurs when chest trauma creates a direct communication between the chest cavity and the external environment, similar to a large hole in a car’s body exposing internal components.

Pediatric Considerations: Unique Vulnerabilities

Children exhibit unique pathophysiological responses to chest trauma due to their anatomical and physiological differences. Greater kinetic energy transfer occurs in children because their chest wall is more pliable and compressible, similar to how lighter car components might deform more easily in a crash. The pediatric mediastinum’s increased mobility allows it to shift to the contralateral side, providing compensation until tension physiology ensues and shock manifests. Cardiac output is relatively fixed in early life, meaning younger patients can maintain normotension despite significant blood loss, masking the severity of the injury until compensatory mechanisms fail, at which point hypotension develops. Children have a higher risk of hypoxia due to lower functional residual capacity and higher tissue oxygen consumption, making respiratory compromise more critical in pediatric chest trauma.

History and Physical Examination: Initial Chest Trauma Diagnosis

Similar to a mechanic’s initial inspection of a damaged vehicle, the history and physical examination are crucial first steps in chest trauma diagnosis. In severe cases, individuals with chest trauma may present with apnea, unresponsiveness, and inaudible cardiac tones, requiring immediate life-saving interventions. The primary survey must be rapid, assessing Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure (ABCDEs). Resuscitation should commence immediately, addressing critical issues like hemorrhage concurrently. A more detailed secondary survey follows patient stabilization, much like a more in-depth car inspection after initial damage assessment.

History Taking: Gathering Crucial Information

Conscious patients with chest trauma may report chest pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis, palpitations, or chest pressure, similar to car owners describing vehicle malfunction symptoms. Associated symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and diaphoresis may indicate significant bleeding or cardiac injury. Polytrauma cases may involve pain, deformity, and loss of function in other areas. Flank or abdominal pain may suggest concomitant abdominal injuries. Esophageal injuries may present with odynophagia, dysphagia, and hematemesis. Loss of consciousness can signal significant blood loss, hypoxia, or brain injury. Similar to understanding the accident details for car repair, the injury mechanism must be explored. MVCs, falls, assaults, and penetrating injuries are common causes. Event circumstances, force direction, and impact details are important. Vehicle damage extent, passenger space intrusion, prolonged extrication, airbag deployment, and steering wheel damage are risk factors for significant injury in MVCs and should be noted in history taking. Patient’s past medical history, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, coagulopathies, lung disease, immunosuppression, and renal impairment, guides management, just as car service history informs repair strategies. Social history, including tobacco, alcohol, drug use, and occupation, provides additional relevant information. A review of systems helps identify concurrent injuries.

Physical Examination: Identifying Key Signs

Physical examination findings raise suspicion of chest trauma. Early recognition of life-threatening injuries is paramount. Conditions requiring immediate identification and management include airway obstruction/rupture, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, massive hemothorax, and flail chest. After initial exam and imaging, a secondary survey may reveal rib fractures, small hemothorax/pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, and chest wall contusion. Potentially serious hidden injuries requiring high suspicion include tracheobronchial injury, aortic injury, myocardial contusion, diaphragmatic rupture, and esophageal rupture. Unconscious patients may have significant hemorrhage, prolonged hypoxia, or brain injury. Hemodynamic instability signs in conscious patients include tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension, and hypoxemia. Tachyarrhythmias may also be present. Aortic root disruption can lead to rapid death. Inspection includes evaluating bruising, abrasions (seat belt sign), and penetrating wounds. Alcoholic breath may be noted in agitated patients. Auscultation may reveal diminished breath sounds suggestive of hemothorax or pneumothorax. Chest wall contusions with seatbelt patterns may have point tenderness over ribs. Crepitus and point tenderness on palpation indicate pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum. Tension pneumothorax diagnosis is clinical, presenting with respiratory distress, tachypnea, and hypoxia, decreased breath sounds on affected side, tracheal deviation away from affected side, and possibly distended neck veins. Pulmonary contusion is suspected with chest wall injury and hypoxia, with hypoxia severity correlating with contusion size. A detailed vascular exam, including bilateral pulse and upper extremity blood pressure, is warranted. Unconscious but resuscitated patients need a complete neurologic examination.

Evaluation: Diagnostic Modalities for Chest Trauma

The diagnostic process for chest trauma, similar to automotive diagnostics, involves imaging, laboratory, and physiologic studies for timely diagnosis, risk stratification, and optimal management. Diagnostic test selection should be clinically guided.

Chest Radiography: Initial Imaging

A portable chest radiograph is essential in most trauma scenarios, serving as an initial imaging modality, similar to a quick scan tool in automotive repair. However, tension pneumothorax diagnosis is primarily clinical, requiring immediate decompression if suspected, with radiographic confirmation not always necessary initially. Point-of-care ultrasound is more accurate in tension pneumothorax diagnosis.[10] Supine chest radiography may miss small to medium-sized pneumothoraces and hemothorax. Aortic injury suspicion arises from mediastinal widening, apical capping, aortic knob loss, or left mainstem bronchus deviation. Mediastinal widening ratio over 25% is suggestive. Occult pneumothorax is suspected with deep costophrenic sulcus, hemidiaphragm hyperlucency, and well-defined mediastinal/cardiac border.[11, 12, 13]

Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)

Traditional FAST exam includes cardiac, right upper quadrant (Morrison pouch), left upper quadrant, and suprapubic windows, similar to specific diagnostic checks in car repair. Extended FAST (e-FAST) adds pulmonary views for pneumothorax and hemothorax, in addition to traditional FAST views. E-FAST should start in the area of highest suspicion. Free fluid detection on e-FAST, appearing black outside organs, usually indicates blood. E-FAST can evaluate anterior chest wall areas between ribs for pneumothorax and is more sensitive than supine chest radiography for pneumothorax detection. Lung sliding absence on ultrasound suggests pneumothorax. Spinal stripe artifact helps identify hemothorax. E-FAST should be completed during primary survey for immediate management guidance, especially in unstable patients.

Computed Tomography (CT): Detailed Imaging

Computed tomography (CT) scan is more sensitive and specific for midthoracic structure evaluation than radiography or ultrasound, providing detailed anatomical information, analogous to advanced diagnostic equipment in automotive repair. CT is definitive in chest trauma, reliably identifying serious injuries. CT can reveal pericardial effusion or hemopericardium in cardiac injury. Hemodynamic stability is required for CT. Spiral chest CT angiography is indicated in high-energy injury mechanisms to assess aortic injury. Aortic injury signs include intimal flaps, pseudoaneurysm, abnormal aortic contour, and sudden caliber change. Aortic injury classification includes: Grade I (intimal disruption), Grade II (intramural hematoma), Grade III (pseudoaneurysm), Grade IV (aortic rupture). Most aortic injuries are at the aortic isthmus, distal to the left subclavian artery. Occult intimal injury is suspected with hematoma adjacent to aorta without other aortic injury signs.

Blood Tests: Laboratory Analysis

Blood tests are crucial in chest trauma evaluation, providing vital physiological data, similar to fluid analysis in automotive diagnostics. Essential blood tests include complete blood count, coagulation studies, blood typing, arterial blood gases, cardiac enzymes, and blood glucose. Complete blood count identifies anemia (blood loss) and leukocytosis (infection/inflammation). Thrombocytopenia may be seen in significant bleeding or DIC. Coagulation studies assess clotting function. Blood typing prepares for potential transfusions. Arterial blood gas analysis assesses respiratory function and acid-base balance in hypoxemia or shock. Cardiac biomarkers are indicated if myocardial injury is suspected. Glucose levels are monitored in unconscious patients or those with diabetes.

Electrocardiography (ECG): Cardiac Assessment

Electrocardiography (ECG) evaluates cardiac involvement in acute trauma, detecting conduction abnormalities, myocardial ischemia, and cardiac contusion signs, similar to engine diagnostics assessing electrical and mechanical function. ECG findings like ST-segment changes, T-wave abnormalities, new bundle branch blocks, or dysrhythmias may indicate cardiac injury. However, a normal ECG does not rule out cardiac injury, requiring further evaluation.

Imaging Adjuncts: Endoscopy and Bronchoscopy

Imaging adjuncts like endoscopy and bronchoscopy assess esophageal and pulmonary injuries, respectively, providing direct visualization, similar to specialized inspection tools in automotive repair. CT followed by esophagogram should be obtained for suspected esophageal injury near chest wounds. Major thoracic trauma rarely occurs in isolation, with associated injuries often present. Traumatic aortic injury, tracheobronchial disruption, and diaphragmatic tear are challenging to diagnose, requiring high clinical suspicion.

Alt Text: Chest X-ray illustrating blunt trauma with a hollow viscus in the left hemithorax and mediastinal shift, indicative of potential chest injury requiring diagnosis.

Alt Text: Computed tomography scans showing blunt chest trauma with organ rupture and bowel herniation into the left hemithorax, demonstrating severe internal injuries for diagnostic evaluation.

Treatment and Management of Chest Trauma

Chest trauma treatment, like car repair, requires injury-specific interventions following initial assessment and stabilization (ABC). Prompt interventions, such as emergent chest tube thoracostomy (CTT), are necessary for life-threatening injuries like large pneumothoraces and hemothorax. Patients with pneumothorax receive 100% oxygen and may require needle decompression followed by CTT for tension pneumothorax. Hemothorax management requires adequate drainage to prevent blood retention and empyema, potentially requiring video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Most thoracic trauma is managed nonoperatively, but surgical intervention should not be delayed when needed. Operative thoracic exploration is considered if initial CTT drainage is excessive (over 1000-1500 mL), ongoing (approximately 200 mL/hour for 2-4 hours), or persistent hypotension occurs despite resuscitation. Asymptomatic, stable patients with occult pneumothorax may not need CTT.

Admission Criteria

Hospital admission is indicated for patients with 3 or more rib fractures, flail chest, or rib fractures with pulmonary contusions, hemopneumothorax, hypoxia, or pre-existing pulmonary disease, requiring advanced care monitoring.

Pain Control Strategies

Pain management is critical in reducing respiratory complications, significantly impacting mortality and morbidity in chest trauma patients. Pain leads to splinting, worsening or impeding healing and potentially causing pneumonia. Early analgesia is crucial. Options include short-acting narcotics, intrapleural nerve blocks, transdermal patches, intravenous analgesia, and epidural analgesia. Nonnarcotic transdermal patches are a safe option for persistent chest wall pain.

Antibiotic Use

Prophylactic antibiotics for CTT in blunt thoracic trauma under sterile conditions have not shown to reduce pneumonia or empyema incidence, suggesting routine prophylactic use may not be necessary and benefits should be weighed against risks.

Operative Management Indications

Careful evaluation identifies patients needing surgical intervention. Open reduction and internal fixation for flail chest have shown to decrease mortality, shorten mechanical ventilation and hospital stay, and reduce ICU stay. Most pulmonary contusions require supportive therapy until healing, with close monitoring in the first 24-48 hours. Treatment aims to prevent respiratory insufficiency, failure, and complications. Pain control prevents chest muscle splinting. Supportive care includes postural drainage, suctioning, chest physiotherapy, incentive spirometry, and encouraging coughing and deep breathing to prevent atelectasis. Bilevel or continuous positive airway pressure may be used for positive pressure ventilation. Minimum positive end-expiratory pressure is needed to maintain open lungs and prevent barotrauma. Prone positioning and positioning contused lung in a nondependent position helps recruit alveoli. Invasive ventilation is needed if noninvasive ventilation fails, using low tidal volumes. Nitric oxide may benefit severe hypoxia. Diuretics reduce pulmonary venous resistance and capillary hydrostatic pressure. Pulmonary artery pressure monitoring is recommended to maintain euvolemia. Surgical stabilization of rib fractures or flail chest corrects pulmonary mechanics. Extracorporeal gas exchange has been used for refractory pulmonary contusions. Aortic injuries with pseudoaneurysm formation require surgical repair.

Management of Aortic and Esophageal Injuries

Aortic injuries are managed based on severity. Grade I injuries are usually managed conservatively. Grade II injuries are monitored closely with imaging. Grade III-IV injuries require emergent intervention. Esophageal injuries require early and aggressive management to prevent mediastinal contamination and complications. Delayed management can cause swallowing difficulties.

Differential Diagnosis in Chest Trauma

Differential diagnosis for chest trauma, similar to considering various car malfunction causes, includes:

  • Acute coronary syndrome: Chest pain radiating to left arm/jaw, dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea.
  • Pneumonia: Chest pain worsened by cough/deep breathing, fever, productive cough, respiratory distress.
  • Pulmonary embolism: Sudden pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, hemodynamic instability.
  • Aortic dissection: Severe sudden chest pain radiating to back, dyspnea, hypotension.
  • Tension gastrothorax: Chest pain, breathing difficulty from gastric herniation into thorax.
  • Pericarditis: Chest pain worsened by deep breathing/lying flat, dyspnea, fever.
  • Anxiety/panic attack: Chest pain, palpitations, hyperventilation post-trauma.
  • Musculoskeletal pain: Chest pain worsened by movement/palpation, no respiratory symptoms.

Thorough clinical assessment and diagnostic testing differentiate chest trauma from these conditions.

Prognosis and Complications

Chest trauma prognosis varies with injury extent. Isolated rib fractures have good prognosis, while lung/cardiac injury leads to prolonged recovery. Thoracic aortic injuries are life-threatening with poor outcomes and high mortality, often before hospital arrival or within 24 hours. Younger and older patients have higher morbidity. Chest trauma is a leading cause of pediatric mortality. Complications include pneumonia, ARDS, ALI, mediastinitis, arteriovenous fistula, and bronchopleural fistula, from direct damage or secondary to critical injuries.

Consultations and Interprofessional Team Approach

Lower threshold for trauma activation, especially in penetrating chest injuries. Stable chest trauma patients need surgical examination. Thoracic surgeons should be involved early for surgical management. Immediate thoracic surgery is needed for: initial blood loss ≥1500 mL or >200 mL/hour for 2-4 hours, massive contusion with ventilatory impairment, tracheobronchial tree injury, and vascular injury. Interprofessional team collaboration (surgeons, emergency physicians, critical care specialists) ensures comprehensive evaluation and timely intervention for optimal care coordination.

Deterrence and Patient Education: Prevention Strategies

Chest trauma prevention, like car accident prevention, involves primary and secondary strategies. Primary prevention focuses on risk factor mitigation: seatbelt/helmet laws, safe driving practices, speed limits, violence reduction, and workplace safety protocols. Secondary prevention minimizes injury severity: prompt EMS access, effective prehospital care, and public first aid education. Prioritizing prevention at all levels reduces chest trauma incidence and severity.

Key Points in Chest Trauma Diagnosis and Management

Key points in chest trauma evaluation and management:

  • Stabilize patient first (ABC) before definitive intervention, following ATLS guidelines.
  • Identify/anticipate injuries based on chest trauma mechanism (blunt vs. penetrating).
  • Thoracic trauma rarely isolated; investigate other body areas for associated injuries.
  • Rapidly recognize and address life-threatening injuries.
  • Flail chest indicates severe thoracic injury; significant chest trauma can occur without rib fractures.
  • High-velocity chest injuries associated with lung contusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax, and vascular damage.
  • Rib fractures suggest significant force; evaluate underlying structures. Lower rib fractures may involve intraabdominal injuries.
  • Pneumothorax can occur in blunt and penetrating trauma; simple pneumothorax can progress to tension pneumothorax.
  • Pulmonary contusion common with chest wall injury; hypoxia is key clinical sign, may be initially silent.
  • Plain chest radiography may show vascular injury (hemothorax, wide mediastinum, aortic knob loss).
  • Prompt trauma team activation for hemodynamic instability. Surgical consultation for stable patients with thoracic injuries.
  • Aortic injuries managed by severity.
  • Esophageal and cardiac injuries require prompt, aggressive treatment.

Improving road, work, and home safety prevents traumatic injuries through multi-sectoral societal efforts.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Chest trauma management is optimized by an interprofessional team: emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists, thoracic surgeons, intensive care clinicians, cardiac surgeons, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists. Emergency physicians initiate assessment and stabilization. Trauma surgeons provide surgical expertise and oversee trauma patient management. Anesthesiologists ensure pain management and airway control. Thoracic surgeons specialize in complex chest injury surgery. Intensive care clinicians provide critical care management. Cardiac surgeons manage cardiac trauma cases. Nurses provide initial assessments and ongoing monitoring. Respiratory therapists provide respiratory support. Pharmacists optimize medication regimens and provide patient education. Coordinated interprofessional teamwork ensures comprehensive and effective chest trauma management, improving patient outcomes.

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References

[List of references as in the original article]

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