Multiorgan trauma with rare fall-related aortic dissection: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Multiorgan trauma that includes aortic dissection most frequently results from car crashes, which is fatal in up to 90% of these patients. Rarely, similar thoracic aortic injury can be caused by falls from significant height. Such a fall in a 43-year-old Chinese man caused multiorgan trauma including multiple fractures and aortic dissection. After immediate evaluation and stabilization of the patient's status, emergency repair of the aortic dissection was performed followed subsequently by elective surgery for the fractures. The patient was eventually discharged from hospital, and at six months followup, he had returned to normal living conditions. The purpose of this case report was to describe the diagnosis and treatment of this rare presentation of traumatic aortic injury as part of multiorgan trauma. Aortic dissection caused by fall injuries from height is extremely rare in clinical practice and can easily be missed or misdiagnosed.