Trauma - Thoracic Injuries 4

Sternal fractures aren’t just bruises—and a “crunchy” neck might mean a trip to the OR. Don’t miss these deadly thoracic trauma patterns that hide in plain sight.

In this high-octane episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down three clutch thoracic trauma topics that are critical for your shelf exam and real-life resuscitations: Sternal Fracture, Traumatic Pneumomediastinum, and Resuscitative Thoracotomy.

You'll learn to: ✅ Recognize sternal fractures as more than just broken bones—watch out for underlying cardiac contusions and aortic injuries ✅ Catch the Macklin effect in traumatic pneumomediastinum—and rule out deadly tracheal or esophageal perforations ✅ Know when (and when NOT) to crack the chest for a resuscitative thoracotomy ✅ Master chest tube thresholds for massive hemothorax ✅ Avoid pitfalls li ...