Chest Wall Pain after Minor Trauma

Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2020 Aug;4(3):468-469. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2020.6.46961.

Abstract

Case presentation: A 30-year-old healthy male presented with a complaint of chest pain after mild thoracic trauma sustained while rescuing stranded flood victims during Hurricane Harvey. Careful physical examination revealed a tender palpable cord along the lateral aspect of his chest consistent with a superficial thrombophlebitis.

Discussion: Mondor's disease is a superficial thrombophlebitis with myriad underlying causes that can involve the thoracic wall. Although Mondor's disease has been well described in the literature, this case describes a unique presentation in an austere environment with blunt trauma as the underlying cause.