At that time he resumed weight lifting without incident and has not had a recurrence during the following year. Etiology and Prevalence Pneumothorax is the loss of air from the lung into the pleural space. It is a common condition, but few cases are related to athletic activity. Tension pneumothorax, which the patient in this case report did not have, develops if there is continued loss of air into the pleural space. Blunt trauma causing rib fracture, clavicular fracture, or sternoclavicular dislocation can also cause pneumothorax.
Primary pneumothorax is thought to occur as a result of rupture of subpleural emphysematous blebs.
In these cases, improper breathing is believed to be the cause of pneumothorax. Taking a deep breath and performing a concentric contraction against a closed glottis causes a Valsalva effect. Physical findings may include tachycardia, decreased breath sounds on auscultation, hyperresonance to percussion, and decreased tactile fremitus. Signs and symptoms of tension pneumothorax include tracheal deviation away from the involved side, distended neck veins, hypotension, and respiratory distress. Pneumothorax can be confirmed by radiograph showing the absence of lung markings peripheral to the visceral pleural line.