Isolated open bronchus fracture after open die forging

Abstract

We present a case of an isolated open bronchus rupture following blunt thoracic trauma. Tracheobronchial injuries (TBI) following blunt chest trauma are a rare but possibly life-threatening condition. Though typically associated with additional injuries, high-energy blunt trauma led to perforating chest wound alone. A bronchial injury has not been seen neither in preoperative CT scan nor intraoperatively. This underlines the strong need for bronchoscopy in chest trauma as the only definitive diagnostic in bronchial lesions.

Keywords

• Bronchus rupture
• Blunt chest trauma
• Bronchoscopy
• Thoracic trauma
• Tracheobronchial injury