Rib fracture treatment and management

Authors

  • Yasser Alzahrani Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, KSA
  • Mohammad Alhazmi Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin
  • Mohammed Al Ibrahim Medical University Of Lublin, Poland
  • Hani Alzahrani Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, KSA
  • Abdullah Calacattawi King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA
  • Amirah Alosaimi Almaarefa colleges, Riyadh, KSA
  • Abdullah Alkahtani King khalid university, Abha, KSA
  • Mohammad Aljumah Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia
  • Abdulmalik Surrati King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA
  • Ibrahim Saan Sabya General Hospital, Jizan, KSA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20182967

Keywords:

Rib fractures, Flail chest, Mortality, Pneumonia

Abstract

Simple rib fractures are the most common injury sustained following blunt chest trauma, accounting for more than half of thoracic injuries from non-penetrating trauma. Severe blunt injury to the chest continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in both young and old trauma victims. We conducted the current meta-analysis using a comprehensive search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials till 01 February 2018 for randomized controlled trials that compared operative-to-non-operative administration in flail chest patients. We identified 6 studies that could be included in the meta-analysis. In total, there were 129 patients receiving operative management compared to 152 patients in the non-operative management group. A positive effect of surgical rib fracture fixation was observed for pneumonia rate [ES 0.43, 95% CI 0.29, 0.72], duration of ICU stay [ES −4.54 days 95% CI (−6.02, −1.89) p>0.0001]. No significant difference was noted in mortality rate [ES 0.55, 95% CI (0.14, 2.44)] between the two treatment strategies. Operative management of flail chest might, therefore, be a promising treatment strategy that could not only improve patient’s outcome, but also lower treatment costs. These observations might be of value for surgeons treating patients with flail chest.

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Published

2018-07-23

How to Cite

Alzahrani, Y., Alhazmi, M., Al Ibrahim, M., Alzahrani, H., Calacattawi, A., Alosaimi, A., Alkahtani, A., Aljumah, M., Surrati, A., & Saan, I. (2018). Rib fracture treatment and management. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 5(8), 3154–3158. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20182967

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Section

Review Articles