The common types of chest injuries are damaged blood vessels, organ contusion or laceration, pneumothorax, haemothorax and rib fractures.
1) There are two types of damaged blood vessels:
Laceration or incomplete tear of the vessel
Transection or complete tear of the vessel, which can cause massive bleeding within the chest
2) Organ contusion or laceration occurs when vital organs within the chest (e.g. heart, lungs, diaphragm) develop bruises (contusion) or tear (laceration) that may lead to massive bleeding within the chest.
3) Pneumothorax refers to the abnormal collection of air within the space of the lungs. Some may be severe and causes the lungs to collapse.
4) Haemothorax refers to the abnormal collection of blood within the space of the lungs.
5) Rib fractures refers to broken bones of the ribs. Fractures can be single, multiple or can result in flail chest. Flail chest occurs when three or more ribs are each broken in more than one place, resulting in floating ribs.
