c c

c


   
Most sternal fractures are caused by blunt anterior chest trauma, although stress fractures have been
noted in some people who undertake specific strenous activites eg weigh lifters.
The mortality rate from isolated sternal fracture is extremely low. Death and morbidity are related
almost entirely to associated injuries.
Complications of a sternum fracture include:

Y cortic disruption or other vascular injury

Y ½ericardial tamponade
mY c life-threatening situation in which there is such a large amount of fluid (usually blood)
inside the pericardial sac around the heart that it interferes with the performance of the
heart. The end result, if untreated, is low blood pressure, shock and death. The excess
fluid in the pericardial sac acts to compress and constrict the heart.

Y 0emothorax:
mY Gleeding into the space between the lung and the inside of the chest wall

Y ½leural effusion:
mY Collection of fluid between the lung and the inside of the chest wall

Y Myocardial contusion
mY ^Gruising͛ of the heart muscle

Y pulmonary contusion
mY ^Gruising͛ of the lungs

Y ½neumothorax
mY ½unctured lung, ie from sternum fracture

Y ½neumonia
mY Œnfection in the lung eg from puncturing the lung

Y blunt cardiac injury (manifested by dysrhythmias or murmurs),


     
Complications of acute myocardial infarction (MŒ) include ischemic, mechanical, arrhythmic, embolic,
and inflammatory (pericarditis) disturbances. Nevertheless, circulatory failure from severe left
ventricular (LV) dysfunction or one of the mechanical complications of MΠaccounts for most fatalities.

 ʹ cngina, reinfarction, infarct extension
  ʹ 0eart failure, cardiogenic shock, mitral valve dysfunction, aneurysms, cardiac rupture
c
 ʹ ctrial or ventricular arrhythmias, sinus or atrioventricular node dysfunction

   ʹ Central nervous system or peripheral embolization


  ʹ ½ericarditis

  c 
Obstruction of the coronary arteries can have very serious effects on the hearts ability to function.
c sudden obstruction can mean a loss of blood supply and therefore a sudden halt in its ability to
function. c gradual blockage can sometimes have less severe effects, with some adaptions occurring so
as to allow the heart to continue to function, albeit at a lesser capacity. This commonly results in pain
being felt on exertion or times where the heart would require a greater blood flow to function properly
but does not meet its needs and output is decreased.
½  ½ 
Deep and pericardium is C3,4,5 mainly C4 (phrenic nerve) which also supplies the shoulder. Thus pain
from these areas is often referred to the tip of the shoulder. ½eripheral problems often show pain locally
on the surface(intercostals nerves?).

   !"

Y 0ypoplasia - 0ypoplasia can affect the heart, which typically results in the failure of either the
right ventricle or the left ventricle to develop adequately, leaving only one side of the heart
capable of pumping blood to the body and lungs.

Y Obstruction defects ʹ occur when heart valves, arteries, or veins are abnormally narrow or
blocked. Common obstruction defects include pulmonary valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis,
and coarctation of the aorta, with other types such as bicuspid aortic valve stenosis and
subaortic stenosis being comparatively rare. cny narrowing or blockage can cause heart
enlargement or hypertension.

Y The septum is a wall of tissue which separates the left heart from the right heart. Œt is
comparatively common for defects to exist in the interatrial septum or the interventricular
septum, allowing blood to flow from the left side of the heart to the right, reducing the heart's
efficiency. Ventricular septal defects are collectively the most common type of C0D, although
approximately 30% of adults have a type of atrial septal defect called probe patent foramen
ovale. Septal defects may or may not cause cyanosis depending on the severity of the defect.

Y Cyanotic heart defects are called such because they result in cyanosis, a bluish-grey
discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen in the body. Such defects include persistent
truncus arteriosus, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, tetralogy of Fallot,
transposition of the great vessels, and tricuspid atresia.