{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T16:07:11Z","timestamp":1779466031802,"version":"3.53.1"},"reference-count":10,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"5","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Case Rep"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Chylothorax is an uncommon condition characterised by the accumulation of chyle into the pleural space, accounting for approximately 3% of cases of pleural effusion. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Outcomes depend on the underlying aetiology; it may be traumatic (such as in iatrogenic injury, chest or vertebral trauma) or non-traumatic (such as in malignancy). High-quality evidence from randomised controlled trials is limited, with management largely guided by expert consensus.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>This case report highlights challenges in the diagnosis and management of traumatic chylothorax in a district general hospital following a fall at home. The source of a chyle leak should be promptly investigated, as the presence of fractures can complicate management. Centralisation of specialist services can further increase the complexity of care in such settings. A thorough understanding of diagnostic strategies and management approaches, including multidisciplinary and multispecialty care, is essential to optimise outcomes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr-2026-273287","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T15:40:19Z","timestamp":1779464419000},"page":"e273287","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Vertebral fracture-associated traumatic chylothorax following a fall: a cause for vigilance"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-9947-4220","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"James","family":"Rosario","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Respiratory Medicine, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rachel","family":"Black","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Respiratory Medicine, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roxana","family":"Stanciu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Respiratory Medicine, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210163","DOI":"10.1183\/20734735.0163-2021","article-title":"Non-traumatic chylothorax: diagnostic and therapeutic strategies","volume":"18","author":"Ur Rehman","year":"2022","journal-title":"Breathe (Sheff)"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejcts.2007.04.024"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chest.2022.06.012"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1645","DOI":"10.21037\/jtd-23-1636","article-title":"Chylothorax: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management-a comprehensive review","volume":"16","author":"Bhatnagar","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Thorac Dis"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/thorax-2022-219698"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/tsaco-2020-000560","article-title":"Accuracy of plain radiography in detecting fractures in older individuals after low-energy falls: current evidence","volume":"5","author":"Pedersen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Trauma Surg Acute Care Open"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1183\/23120541.00091-2023","article-title":"Clinical characteristics of chylothorax: results from the International Collaborative Effusion database","volume":"9","author":"Porcel","year":"2023","journal-title":"ERJ Open Res"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ejcts\/ezv041"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/MAJ.0b013e3181cdcd6c"},{"key":"2026052208401201000_19.5.e273287.10","first-page":"428","article-title":"The successful use of octreotide in the treatment of traumatic chylothorax","volume":"39","author":"Sharkey","year":"2012","journal-title":"Tex Heart Inst J"}],"container-title":["BMJ Case Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bcr-2026-273287","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T15:40:21Z","timestamp":1779464421000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/casereports.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bcr-2026-273287"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"references-count":10,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bcr-2026-273287"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bcr-2026-273287","relation":{},"ISSN":["1757-790X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1757-790X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}}}