Harm from seat belt: Transthoracic lung herniation and pericardial rupture

Traumatic rib and sternal fractures are most often associated with automobile collisions where vehicle occupants wear seat belts but airbags do not deploy. Occupants rarely sustain the concomitant injuries of lung herniation and pericardial rupture. The authors present a case study of pericardial rupture and traumatic extrathoracic herniation of the lung resulting from a seat belted passenger involved in a high-velocity automobile collision who sustained multiple rib fractures and sternal dislocation. The authors conclude that because it is rapidly applicable and shows favorable results in the perioperative and late results, open or thoracoscopic surgical mesh implantation is suggested for traumatic transthoracic lung herniation.