Traumatic pneumothorax

[PussyCat]

Traumatic pneumothorax occurs when air accumulates between the chest wall and the lung because of an injury. It causes the lung to collapse partially or completely.

People have chest pain and sometimes feel short of breath.
Usually, a chest x-ray is taken.
Usually, a tube (thoracostomy tube) is inserted into the chest to remove the air and allow the lung to reinflate.

(See also Introduction to Chest Injuries.)
Pneumothorax may result when blunt force (such as a motor vehicle crash or fall) or a penetrating injury (such as a stab or gunshot wound) damages the lungs and/or airways. The damage allows air to leave the lung and collect between the lung and the wall of the chest. Air from the pneumothorax may also leak into the skin of the chest or neck. Many people also have blood in the pleural space (hemopneumothorax).
Pneumothorax of both lungs is very dangerous. However, most often only one lung is affected. A pneumothorax that affects only one lung is rarely dangerous unless people have a chronic lung disorder (such as asthma or COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]) or unless the pneumothorax is a tension pneumothorax or an open pneumothorax (a pneumothorax that connects to an open wound in the chest wall).