A 24-year-old patient presents to the emergency department after sustaining multiple traumatic injuries after a motorcycle accident. On examination you note tachypnea, use of intercostal muscles to breathe, asymmetric chest expansion, and no breath sounds over the left lower lobe. It is most important to suspect:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presentation of tachypnea, use of accessory muscles to breathe, asymmetric chest expansion, and absent breath sounds over one area of the chest strongly suggests a pneumothorax, which is air in the pleural space causing lung collapse. This is a common and serious complication of chest trauma.

A 24-Year-Old Patient Presents to the Emergency Department After Sustaining