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 FLAIL CHEST AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.