1. Throat and Thorax Injuries
Chapter 7
Chapter 7

2. Objectives Understand the basic anatomy of the throat and thorax.
Understand how to prevent injuries of the throat and thorax.
Know the care necessary to treat an injury within the throat or thorax.
Understand the implications of illness or injury related to a specific organ in the thorax.

3. Throat Anatomy
Carotid artery
Jugular vein
Larynx
Trachea
Esophagus

4. Throat Anatomy Esophagus Trachea Larynx Passageway for food
In front of cervical vertebrae, behind trachea and larynx
Trachea
Made up of circular rings of cartilage
Main passageway for air to get to and from lungs
Larynx
Modified portion of upper trachea, contains vocal cords

5. Throat Anatomy Carotid artery Jugular vein
One on each side of the trachea
Carries oxygenated blood to the brain
Jugular vein
Carries unoxygenated blood away from the brain
Deadly if either are severed

6. Thorax Anatomy Thoracic Vertebrae 12 Ribs on each side (2 floating)
Sternum
These bones function to protect the organs

7. Thoracic organs
Heart
Lungs
Diaphragm

8. Thorax Anatomy Heart Size of your fist
Pumps blood to all parts of body
Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to cells and carbon dioxide and waste away from cells

9. Heart Chambers Left and right atrium Left and right ventricle
Thicker due to function of pumping blood throughout the body

10. Heart Function-pumps blood to lungs and entire body Path
Right atrium(RA) fills with deoxygenated blood from body
Goes to right ventricle (RV) and out to lungs to receive oxygen

11. Heart Path (continued)
Left atrium (LA) receives oxygenated blood from the lungs
Goes to left ventricle (LV)…largest chamber of the heart and sends it to the rest of the body through the aorta to other major arteries
Once oxygen is used, blood returns to heart through veins

12. Lungs
Function: to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide and dissipate body heat

13. Lungs Bronchi Bronchioles Alveoli Branches of the trachea
Divisions of the bronchi
Alveoli
Ends of the bronchioles where oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange occurs

14. Diaphragm Separates thorax and abdominal cavities
Contracts and pulls down to assist inhalation and moves up to push air out

15. Injury Prevention Protective equipment Rules
Always buy best protective equipment

16. Treating throat injuries and conditions
Most injuries to throat are contusions caused by a blow from sticks, feet, or arms
Treat with ice
Most response to throat injury is coughing, spitting, difficulty breathing, and pain

17. Throat lacerations
Superficial lacerations can be controlled with direct pressure
Deep are medical emergencies
Apply direct pressure, treat for shock
Must respond quickly

18. Cartilage fracture Caused by severe blow to throat
Can be life threatening
Causes difficulty breathing, gasping, spitting blood, pain, difficulty talking, appear anxious
May turn blue (lack of oxygen)
Treat with extreme care due to possible cervical spine injury
Treat as medical emergency (call 911) and backboard to transport
Ice area, keep athlete calm, keep airway free of blood

19. Pneumothorax Air in the pleural cavity (collapsed lung)
Can occur with or without trauma
Traumatic caused by punctured lung (rib fracture, gunshot, severe laceration)
Non-traumatic caused by weakness of lung tissue

20. Pneumothorax
When occurs, injured lung moves toward center of chest, puts pressure on heart and other organs
Causes difficulty breathing and athlete will gasp for air
Inhaled air escapes through hole and into chest cavity which causes further compression on organs

21. Spontaneous pneumothorax
Can happen in healthy athlete
Caused by weakness in lung tissue
Difficulty breathing, chest pain, possible blue skin (cyanotic)
Place athlete on ground with injured lung closest to ground, treat for shock and treat as medical emergency (911)
Usually heals itself without surgery

22. Tension Pneumothorax
Air leaking out forces lung into other lung and heart
Tracheal deviation possible causing more respiratory distress
Death can occur if not treated rapidly
If there is an external puncture would, partially cover it leaving one side unsealed to prevent tension from getting worse

23. Tension Pneumothorax Sign/symptoms
Respiratory distress
Absent breath sounds on injured side
Anxiety
Bluish skin color
Pulse rapid and weak
Blood pressure will drop
Injury requires physician to insert a chest tube and possible surgical intervention

24. Flail chest Multiple ribs fractured in 2 or more places
Occurs from direct impact
Entire fractured portion moves in and out when athlete breathes, but opposite normal
Very painful, possible other internal injuries

25. Flail chest Treatment- decrease movement of fracture
Treat athlete for shock
Call 911 immediately

26. Pulmonary contusions Bruised lung Direct impact (usually blunt object)
Causes bleeding and swelling
Difficulty breathing and bluish skin color
Call 911, ice if athlete allows

27. Sucking chest wounds
Puncture of chest wall, air from outside is drawn noisily into cavity
Lung is not punctured
Air coming in causes pressure on lungs causing distress
Difficulty breathing, circulation impairment (cyanotic)
Seal wound with cellophane or plastic bag
Call EMS immediately

28. Hyperventilation Quick breathing >24 breaths per min
Causes abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood
Caused by becoming overly excited, anxiety, or diabetes
Can become dizzy, experience numbness in extremities, and/or loss of consciousness
Treat by encouraging athlete to breath slowly, calming the athlete