The authors present a group of 22 patients admitted for traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta between 1969 and 1989. Most of them were polytraumatized patients (mean ISS 45). The majority of the injured patients possibly died before arriving at hospital. Amongst the other patients, there was a local tamponade of the hemorrhage. The risk of rupture of the patients arriving alive at the hospital is consequently restricted. The mortality of the patients operated in shock is high (3/4). The authors recommend to operate these lesions in delayed emergency.