Common Causes And Risk Factors Of A Pneumothorax

Chest Injury

A chest injury, both blunt and penetrating ones, is one of the most frequent causes of a pneumothorax. For example, knife or gunshot wounds, fractured ribs from physical assaults, and injuries sustained during automobile accidents may result in a pneumothorax. Patients who seek medical care after an assault or accident will be carefully evaluated to check for the presence of a collapsed lung. Although less common, a pneumothorax may also develop due to an injury to the chest that occurs during a surgical procedure that involves inserting a needle into the chest. Surgeons are trained to minimize the risk of this complication, and the patient will be carefully monitored so the pneumothorax can be promptly corrected if it does occur. Patients who have experienced a collapsed lung are generally at an increased risk of having another pneumothorax within one to two years.

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