All of the following are true regarding flail chest, EXCEPT:
Correct Answer: Emergency thoracotomy should be required
Description: Flail chest arises whenever a poion of the chest wall becomes completely discontinuous from the rest of the rib cage. It occurs when three or more contiguous ribs are fractured in at least two locations bilaterally. Paradoxical chest wall movement may not be seen in a conscious patient due to splinting of the chest wall. Patients who are able to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation with supplemental oxygen may be maintained without mechanical ventilation and endotracheal intubation, paicularly if adequate pain control can be achieved. Emergency thoracotomy is not required for treating flail chest. Also, mechanical fixation of the rib fractures usually is not necessary. Ref: Ali J. (2005). Chapter 95. Torso Trauma. In J.B. Hall, G.A. Schmidt, L.D. Wood (Eds), Principles of Critical Care, 3e.
Category:
Surgery
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now