What Is Traumatic Pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax is a condition that occurs when the lung collapses. This collapse is due to a buildup of air in the cavity between the chest wall and lung, called the pleural space. When air fills this space, the lung cannot expand and fill with air. Traumatic pneumothorax is one of the types of pneumothorax commonly caused by a traumatic injury, such as a serious fall or car accident.

Traumatic injury is the cause of traumatic pneumothorax. Injury to the chest can cause a punctured lung. The punctured lung leaks into the pleural cavity. This space provides room between the lung and the chest wall for expansion as the lung expands and fills with air. If this cavity becomes filled with air, the lung cannot fill with air properly because there is not enough room to expand. In some cases, a wound from the outside that perforates the lung can also cause this condition.

Symptoms of traumatic pneumothorax that may occur vary depending on how fast the cavity fills with air and the cause of the air leak. General symptoms of pneumothorax include shortness of breath, chest tightness, and low oxygen levels. Trauma symptoms can add hemothorax and chest pain to the general symptoms. Hemothorax occurs when blood builds up in the pleural cavity, either alone or in addition to the air. This blood collection is a common occurrence with this type of pneumothorax.

Initial diagnosis of traumatic pneumothorax involves physical examination. A stethoscope is used to check for decreased breathing sounds on the affected side of the chest. The lips and fingertips may appear to have a blue tint from low oxygen levels. The heart rate will also be checked because pneumothorax can cause the heart rate to increase. Following an initial physical exam, further testing is often necessary.

One common test for traumatic pneumothorax is a chest x-ray. The chest x-ray is used to determine the extent of the trauma to the chest and will be used to look for damage to the lung. Blood tests check how much oxygen is present.

Treatments for traumatic pneumothorax are similar to standard pneumothorax, with the addition of treatments for the trauma that occurred if necessary. A catheter may be inserted into the pleural cavity and is attached to a vacuum to remove air from the area as well as blood in the event of hemothorax. This process can take several days and requires an extended hospital stay. If the lung is ruptured or punctured, surgery may be required to repair the damage. Once any damage is repaired and the air is removed, the lung can begin to reinflate, but oxygen assistance is often used during this process to keep levels normal.