الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALEOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Trauma is the leading cause of death for individuals younger than 40 years of age, with approximately 140,000 deaths annually in the United States alone.(211) Of these deaths, thoracic injuries are primarily responsible for 25% of cases (212) and are a major contributing factor in up to 75% of cases. (211) However, most thoracic injuries may be effectively treated with tube thoracostomy and simple fluid resuscitation.(213, 214)
Within the broad category of thoracic trauma, there are many different types of injuries. Therefore it is crucial for the treating physician to promptly make the correct diagnosis and to quantify the severity of the injury. This will allow the selection of an appropriate treatment protocol and ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. (215)