Flail Chest Treatment Handout

Flail and chest trauma are typically caused by high-impact chest trauma, such as road traffic accidents, falls from significant heights, or direct blows to the front chest cavity during sports. These injuries result in multiple rib fractures that detach a segment of the chest wall.

Flail chest is diagnosed through physical examination and imaging studies such as X-rays or CT scans. The characteristic symptom is paradoxical movement of the chest wall, where the injured segment of the chest wall moves outward and in the opposite direction of the rest of the chest during breathing.

Complications of flail chest can include respiratory failure, pneumonia, and other lung infections. The condition can also lead to significant pain and discomfort, requiring careful management and monitoring.