Traumatic tension pneumothorax caused by Sylvester Palm frond

Abstract

Traumatic tension pneumothoraces can result from blunt or penetrating trauma. We present a case of a 48-year-old man that was diagnosed with traumatic tension pneumothorax following anterior penetrating left hemithorax trauma from a Sylvester Palm frond thorn. Prior reports of traumatic tension pneumothoraces resulting from Sylvester Palm frond thorns were not found in the surveyed literature.

Keywords

Pneumothorax / Traumatic pneumothorax / Tension pneumothorax / Lateral chest puncture / Sylvester Palm / Chest tube / Thoracostomy