A CASE OF CLOSED BLUNT CHEST TRAUMA OCCURRING WITH MULTIPLE CHEST WALL ABSCESSES

Abstract

　　A man in his 40's collided with a truck while drink-driving. After approximately 24 hours, he visited a nearby hospital and was diagnosed with right hemopneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, and multiple right rib fractures from the 1st to 10th levels. The patient was then transferred to our hospital. His clinical condition was relatively stable until the 3rd day of hospitalization, when he suddenly developed sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, for which he was admitted to the ICU. Repeated blood cultures demonstrated the presence of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Follow-up enhanced CT on the 21st day of hospitalization exhibited multiple chest wall abscesses around each rib fracture. The blood cultures became negative after drainage was performed. He was discharged on the 126th day of hospitalization. This is a rare case of closed blunt chest trauma with multiple chest wall abscesses. The importance of early antimicrobial therapy for severe blunt chest trauma is suggested.