Compressive chylothorax after lumbar spine fracture

Abstract A 14-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital after an episode of blunt trauma to the thorax, resulting in a Chance fracture of L1 and a compressive chylothorax 72 h after admission. After initial drainage in the operating room, conservative management was successful. This case study documents one of the rare complications of spinal fractures in the context of high-energy blunt trauma. It is the first detailing a noniatrogenic post-traumatic compressive chylothorax in pediatrics responding positively to conservative management. Drainage should be considered the first-line procedure for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Surgery is required if the leakage is still present after parenteral feeding and the implementation of a fat-free diet for 5–7 days.