Rib Fractures and Flail Chest

Incidence

Rib fractures Flail Chest

 

10% of all multitraumas

 

Issues

 

Alters mechanics of ventilation / causes respiratory compromise

- significant morbidity 33%

- significant mortality 12%

 

Surgical Fixation

 

Rib Fracture Plates

 

Swart et al J Orthop Trauma 2017

- meta-analysis of surgical fixation

- decreased mortality

- decrease mechanical ventilation times

- decreased ICU and hospital sty

- decreased rates of pneumonia and tracheostomy