Sternal fractures aren’t just bruises—and a “crunchy” neck might mean a trip to the OR. Don’t miss these deadly thoracic trauma patterns that hide in plain sight.

In this high-octane episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down three clutch thoracic trauma topics that are critical for your shelf exam and real-life resuscitations: Sternal Fracture, Traumatic Pneumomediastinum, and Resuscitative Thoracotomy.

You'll learn to: ✅ Recognize sternal fractures as more than just broken bones—watch out for underlying cardiac contusions and aortic injuries ✅ Catch the Macklin effect in traumatic pneumomediastinum—and rule out deadly tracheal or esophageal perforations ✅ Know when (and when NOT) to crack the chest for a resuscitative thoracotomy ✅ Master chest tube thresholds for massive hemothorax ✅ Avoid pitfalls like discharging a patient with a missed RBBB or subtle esophageal leak

Perfect for med students, residents, and anyone who wants to stay cool in the trauma bay. Grab your scalpel—or at least your stethoscope—and hit play!