Abstract
Introduction
The association of the sternum and vertebral fractures has been described previously in the literature. These injuries are frequently overlooked in the initial evaluation. The purpose of this study was to analyze and discuss the diagnostic methods used for these injuries and to highlight the importance of the early recognition of these fractures.
Patients and Methods
This study is a retrospective analysis of four patients who concomitantly suffered vertebral and sternum fractures by analyzing the clinical histories and imaging tests.
Results
All the patients were diagnosed with sternum fractures in the initial evaluation, but only one was diagnosed with a vertebral fracture.
Conclusions
Not recognizing these fractures in the initial evaluation may be associated with the difficulty of exploring the upper thoracic region. In the presence of sternum fractures, a vertebral fracture must be ruled out, whether there are major injuries or not. CT and MRI must be obtained in the event of clinical suspicion, even if the normal X-ray does not show any injuries.