Papillary muscle rupture of the mitral valve following blunt thoracic trauma.

Blunt cardiac injury is caused by large deceleration forces seen in motor vehicle accidents and can range from non-life-threatening arrhythmias to potentially fatal cardiac conditions such as valve disruption. A 28-year-old man presented following a motor vehicle accident involving direct blunt-force chest trauma. He developed papillary muscle rupture resulting in mitral valve dysfunction.