Chest injuries in children are part of polytrauma resulting from high-energy 
violence, most often caused by traffic accidents. Blunt chest injuries (95%) are 
significantly more frequent than penetrating injuries (5%). Lung contusion, rib 
fracture, pneumothorax or haemothorax, are the more common injuries, but 
tracheobronchial rupture, cardiac or diaphragmatic injuries may also occur. The 
anterior X-ray image remains the basic examination method for isolated chest 
injuries. CT trauma scan with a contrast medium is done in polytraumatized 
children. Blunt injuries of intra-thoracic organs in haemodynamically stable 
children are treated mostly conservatively (85%) under full monitoring at the 
ICU. Surgical treatment is necessary in a minority of patients. Mortality and 
morbidity of patients with chest injury depend on the actual combination of 
multiple body systems injury. The severity of total injury can be predicted 
using objective scoring systems (Abbreviated Injury Scale=AIS; Injury Severity 
Score=ISS). Overall mortality ranges from 6 to 20%. Mortality is high but this 
is mainly due to associated head injuries.Key words: multiple trauma thoracic 
trauma - paediatric lung contusion Injury Severity Score=ISS.