Isolated fractures of the first rib are uncommon. They are caused by major blunt trauma, a violent muscular pull, or fatigue. Diagnosis is usually made by chest radiography and computed tomography. Angiography is justified when certain criteria are met. Treatment is rest and mild analgesia. Early and late complications have been reported and are treated accordingly. The purpose of this article ...

Surgical rib fixation in the setting of flail chest has proven benefits, while surgical fixation of non-flail fractures is controversial. Chest wall reconstruction with rib fixation techniques can improve pain, preserve breathing mechanics and prevent complications from lung herniation. However, there are limitations to this technique. With this case report, we describe plate fracture and screw...

BACKGROUND Blunt chest injury with multiple rib fractures can result in such complications as pneumonia, atelectasis, bronchiectasis, empyema thoracis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and prolonged Intensive Care Unit and hospital stay, with its concomitant mortality. These may be prevented or reduced by good analgesic therapy which is the subject of this study. METHODS This was a prospe...

Necrotising soft tissue infection (NSTI) is a surgical emergency. We hereby present rare case with NSTI of the chest wall secondary to rib fractures without any intra pulmonary pathology leading life-threatening condition.

Clavicle fractures are common in adults. Recent studies have shown that operative treatment of clavicle fractures has benefits in many situations. However, there is controversy about the indications. Data on social outcomes are limited. A total of 434 patients with 436 clavicle fractures treated both operatively and nonoperatively at a level 1 trauma center were identified. Narcotic use was rec...

A best evidence topic was constructed according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether surgical stabilization is effective in improving the outcomes of patients with isolated multiple distracted and painful non-flail rib fractures. Of the 356 papers found using a report search, nine presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and...

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common disease that may contribute to morbidity and mortality among trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study evaluated the associations between trauma factors and the development of VAP in ventilated patients with multiple rib fractures. Methods We retrospectively and consecutively evaluated 101 patients with multiple r...

Ninety-three human cadaver tests are used in the development of thoracic injury risk functions with consideration of age and restraint condition. Linear logistic regression models are developed with the set of potential predictors including the maximum chest deflection, the age of the cadaver at death, gender, and the loading condition on the anterior thorax: blunt hub (41 tests), seat belt (26...

OBJECTIVES To describe the management, morbidity and mortality seen with isolated rib fractures in elderly patients and assess the need for hospitalization. DESIGN A case series. SETTING A tertiary care centre in Tel Aviv. METHODS Hospital records of 77 elderly patients (age 65 yr and older) admitted with isolated rib fractures were reviewed over a 9-year period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES D...

This paper reports on a unique, previously unreported, successful outcome in the case of a patient with focal osteolytic lesions of the ribs as a first sign of osteoporosis. The lesions were detected by chance after acute cough-induced rib fractures were seen on plain chest radiographs. The diagnosis had to be approached as a diagnosis of exclusion since known causes of the osteolytic process h...