Photoclinic Diagnosis: Traumatic Rupture of the Thoracic Aorta

A13-year-old boy was brought to the emergency department eight hours after amputation of both arms. Mechanism of trauma was entanglement of both upper limbs and subsequent sudden contact of the chest to an agricultural machine. On examination, he was in a state of shock. With initial resuscitation, he became hemodynamically stable. Supine chest roentgenogram was suspicious of mediastinal widening. Computed tomography (CT) and angiography (aortography) were obtained.