For most persons with thoracic trauma the procedure is not necessary only 15 of those with thoracic injury require the procedure.

Cardio thoracic ratio is the transverse diameter of the heart, as determined by x ray examination, compared with that of the thoracic cage, used to help determine enlargement of the heart.

Children are especially vulnerable, possibly due to the mechanical properties of their thoracic skeleton.

At week 8 it can be found at the level of the thoracic vertebrae.

The great majority of cases occur in the lowest of the lumbar vertebrae (L5), but spondylolysis may also occur in the other lumbar vertebrae, as well as in the thoracic vertebrae.

From a side view, the cervical (neck) region of the spine (C1 C7) is bent inward, the thoracic (upper back) region (T1 T12) bends outward, and the lumbar (lower back) region (L1 L5) bends inward.

A resuscitative thoracotomy (sometimes referred to as an emergency department thoracotomy) is a thoracotomy typically done in order to resuscitate a person who has been severely injured after sustaining a severe trauma involving the thoracic cavity.

In certain cases, bone may be cut to further access the interior of the body for example, cutting the skull for brain surgery or cutting the sternum for thoracic (chest) surgery to open up the rib cage.