Tracheobronchial Injury

  • Etiology: blunt trauma against closed glottis or AP compression of chest causes tear in trachea or mainstem bronchus
  • Imaging: tear occurs in neck / carina / mainstem bronchi close to carina resulting in pneumomediastinum , massive air leak, unrelenting pneumothorax, fallen lung sign on CT
  • Clinical: little improvement after chest tube

Cases of Tracheobronchial Injury

CXR of tracheobronchial injury of left mainstem bronchus
CXR AP shows air in the superior mediastinum and neck, airspace disease in the left upper lobe, and a small amount of air in the left pleural space.