Abstract

PACHAR LUCIO, J.V.  and  BORQUEZ, P.. Posterior rib fracture causing late aortic injury and sudden death. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2015, vol.21, n.3-4, pp.162-164. ISSN 1988-611X.

Traumatic injury of the descending aorta, caused by the sharp end of a left rib fracture, is an unusual and highly lethal complication of closed chest trauma. In this paper we present the case of an adult woman, hospitalized for closed chest trauma, who died suddenly after a postural change. The autopsy showed aortic perforations, which coincided with fractures of the left posterior ribs 5 and 7. Histopathologic analysis showed that lesions were in the repair process. This case demonstrates that in the investigation of an unexpected death associated with closed thoracic trauma with rib fractures is crucial to perform a medico-legal autopsy in order to recognize late perforations of the thoracic aorta.

Keywords : Sudden death; Late aortic injury; Rib fractures; Road traffic accident.

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