[Thoracic trauma: incidence, social and economic costs, educational opportunities. Experience on the last eight years of Thoracic Surgical Unit of Messina University].

The Authors, after extensive introduction on the incidence, etiology, classification, pathophysiology, possible complications, diagnosis and treatment of thoracic trauma, relate their experience on the last eight years, stressing the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in management of trauma simple and complicated and assessing finally serious social impact of these pathologies and the educational opportunities provided.