Introduction

Thoracic trauma is relatively uncommon, accounting for only five to 12% of admissions to pediatric trauma centers. Among those pediatric patients with thoracic trauma, blunt injury predominates and accounts for 60 to 80% of all injuries.

The incidence of penetrating thoracic trauma increases with age, and is more common in adolescents than young children. Thoracic injuries alone are associated with a five percent mortality but, as with adults, mortality increases significantly with associated head or abdominal injuries and may be as high as 40% when all three body regions are injured. Therefore, despite its infrequency, thoracic trauma is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].

see also Penetrating Trauma and Thoracotomy for Penetrating Trauma