What might indicate a closed chest injury?

A closed chest injury can be indicated by symptoms such as pain when breathing, which is known as pleuritic pain. This type of pain often arises from irritation of the pleura, the membranes surrounding the lungs, which can occur in conditions like rib fractures or lung contusions, commonly associated with closed chest injuries. Pain during inhalation or exhalation can be a clear sign of underlying trauma affecting the thoracic cavity without the skin being breached.

Other indicators of closed chest injuries typically would involve changes in breathing patterns or abnormal sounds. For instance, the protrusion of organs is more indicative of an open chest injury, where there is a break in the chest wall, potentially allowing organs to be displaced. Similarly, short gasps while breathing, while indicating respiratory distress, does not specifically suggest a closed chest injury. A large sucking sound is a classic sign of an open pneumothorax, where air enters the chest cavity through a wound, leading to a life-threatening condition. Therefore, pain when breathing is a strong indicator of potential closed chest injury due to its link to thoracic trauma and lung involvement.