Traumatic lung herniation after ATV rollover

Traumatic pulmonary hernia is a rare entity that often presents immediately after the trauma but may appear years after the incident. We report a case of a 53-year-old female with polytrauma including a traumatic pulmonary hernia following an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rollover. Left pulmonary hernia reduction, rib plating, and pectoralis flap were performed. After the surgery, the patient's pain and respiratory status drastically improved, and the patient was able to leave the hospital without any supplemental oxygen requirements. Pulmonary hernia is a rare etiology seen in blunt traumas involving the chest. These often can be associated with rib fractures, pulmonary contusions, and clavicular fractures. There are multiple techniques for surgical repair including using autologous tissues, synthetic materials, and even minimally invasive techniques. Although pulmonary hernia is rare, every trauma and thoracic surgeon should be aware of the etiology of this condition and the options available for surgical repair.