FLAIL CHEST

Course overview

FLAIL CHEST IS A TRAUMATIC CONDITION OF THE THORAX. IT MAY OCCUR WHEN 3 OR MORE RIBS ARE BROKEN IN AT LEAST 2 PLACES. IT IS CONSIDERED A CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AS EVERYBODY WITH THIS FRACTURE PATTERN DOES NOT DEVELOP A FLAIL CHEST. A FLAIL CHEST CAN CREATE A SIGNIFICANT DISTURBANCE TO RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY. A FLAIL CHEST IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT BLUNT CHEST WALL TRAUMA. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE FLAIL CHEST AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.