Penetrating Heart Injuries Due to Puncture by Fractured Sternum or Ribs Following Blunt Trauma

Abstract

Penetrating heart injuries typically present as ruptured myocardium resulting from sharp edged or pointed weapons and firearms. Blunt trauma to the thorax may also cause myocardial rupture by squeezing the heart between the bony structures of the thorax. However, the penetrating trauma resulting from the free ends of the fractured sternum or the ribs puncturing the heart and rupturing the myocardium is seldom seen. In this study, we present two cases of penetrating heart trauma resulting from fractured sternum and ribs puncturing the myocardium following a blunt chest trauma.




doi:10.4021/jcs104e