Signs and symptoms associated with a flail chest include
a. tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side.
b. jugular venous distention.
c. paradoxical respiratory movement.
d. respiratory alkalosis.
C
Tracheal deviation and jugular venous distention are findings associated with tension pneumothorax. Respiratory acidosis is usually present because of the ineffective breathing pattern. In a flail chest, a free-floating segment of the chest wall moves independently from the rest of the thorax and results in paradoxical chest wall movement during the respiratory cycle. During inspiration, the intact portion of the chest wall expands while the injured part is sucked in. During expiration, the chest wall moves in, and the flail segment moves out.
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