Mr. Van, a 62-year-old man, fell down the stairs from a height of 3 meters and suffered severe chest injuries. He fractured his rib cage, pleural effusion, and had a high risk of infection. After the accident, he was rushed to Kien Giang Provincial Hospital for treatment.
The doctors at Kien Giang Hospital diagnosed Mr. Van with pleural effusion, which caused compression and partially collapsed his lung. They placed a pleural drain to address these issues, but after five days, his lungs were still collapsed. The medical team then transferred him to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for further treatment.
At Tam Anh General Hospital, Dr. Tran Quoc Hoai from the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery diagnosed Mr. Van with seven broken ribs, a displaced segment of the chest, and hemothorax. The medical team performed surgery to access the pleural cavity, remove adhesions, fluid, and blood clots and rearrange the displaced ribs. The operation was successful, and Mr. Van experienced relief from pain, improved lung expansion and no complications after three days.
Fractures in chest trauma are common and can be caused by various incidents such as traffic accidents, falls or daily life accidents. Apart from broken ribs, chest injuries can also affect other parts of the body such as the collarbone
