[Flail chest in pediatric patient. Case report].

Flail chest is defined by fracture of 3 or more adjacent ribs, at 2 or more sites, with paradoxical movement of the affected chest. It occurs in 2 to 4 % of blunt chest trauma, with a mortality of 10 to 15 %. Treatment is conservative, using analgesia and positive pressure ventilation, or surgical osteosynthesis of rib fractures.