[Thoracic trauma in Hungary today: heritage, current challenges and future directions].

Thoracic trauma is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality among severely injured patients. While the management of immediately life-threatening intrathoracic injuries is relatively well defined, the treatment of severe blunt chest wall injuries, particularly multiple rib fractures and flail chest, remains variable across institutions. This review aims to summarize the current situation of thoracic trauma care in Hungary, with special emphasis on chest wall injuries and the role of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). SSRF should no longer be regarded as an isolated technical procedure, but as part of the complex, multidisciplinary management of patients with rib fractures. Therapeutic decision-making should be based not only on the number of fractured ribs, but also on fracture pattern, chest wall instability, pain, respiratory mechanics, pulmonary parenchymal injury, the patient's physiological reserve, overall injury severity and timing of surgery. The development of thoracic trauma care in Hungary requires a shared indication language, protocol-based imaging, early reassessment, multimodal analgesia, physiotherapy, transparent regional referral pathways and auditable outcome measurement. The existing Hungarian expertise in trauma surgery, thoracic surgery, emergency medicine and intensive care provides a realistic basis for establishing a structured, nationally applicable model of thoracic trauma care. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(42): 1686-1692.