Sternal fracture in the age of pan-scan

Cardiac findings of sternal fractures due to the thoracic trauma: A five year retrospective study

“…The authors also reported that the median age of patients was 54, 65.3% of them were male, and most frequent cause of trauma was motor vehicle accident (71.9%). [13] Wojcik and Morgan also found that the most common cause of sternal fracture was motor vehicle accident (59%) in their five year retrospective study. [10] Monaco et al reported that 16 of the 50 patients (32%) with sternal fracture had displaced fracture.…”

“…[18] Perez et al found that of the 184 patients that received cardiac test 24.4% had abnormal ECG, 15.9% had abnormal Troponin, and 8.8% had abnormal echo findings. [13] Wiener et al reviewed 50 cases with sternal fracture after blunt chest trauma. They found that 11 patients had one or more abnormal cardiac test (8 abnormal Echo, 4 abnormal ECG, and 3elevated cardiac enzyme), but only 3 of them had clinically symptomatic myocardial contusion.…”

“…Perez et al reported that median hospital length of the stay was 5 days in patients with trauma related sternal fracture. [13] Limitations and strengths of the study…”

Transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of the trauma patient: A trauma resuscitation transesophageal echocardiography exam

“…With the prevalence of the comprehensive/full body CT as part of the trauma workup, sternal fractures on chest CT are an increasingly common finding [16]. The association of sternal fractures with underlying significant cardiac injury, however, is unclear.…”

“…The association of sternal fractures with underlying significant cardiac injury, however, is unclear. The current literature is split; with some data emphasizing the high risk and mortality of blunt cardiac injury in this setting [17], while other data suggest over-diagnosis of a clinically insignificant finding [16].…”