conclusions negative pressure inspiration is significantly impaired by an unstable chest wall. restoring mechanical stability of the fractured ribs improves respiratory outcomes similar to baseline values. results a wide variation in the mean inspiratory volumes and peak flows were measured between specimens; however, the effect of a flail chest wall and the subsequent internal fixation of the ...

BACKGROUND Intramedullary fixation of rib fractures with generic Kirschner wires has been practiced for over 50 years. However, this technique has not been advanced to address reported complications of wire migration and cut-out. This biomechanical study evaluated a novel rib splint designed to replicate the less-invasive fixation approach of Kirschner wires while mitigating their associated co...

BACKGROUND Surgical management of fractured ribs with internal fixation is an increasingly accepted therapy. Concurrently, specific rib fixation prostheses are being developed which should improve results and minimise hardware and rib/splint construct failures. The Synthes titanium intramedullary splint lends itself to difficult to access areas such as posterior rib fractures and fractures unde...

Displaced rib fractures as the result of blunt chest trauma impairs chest wall mechanics, causes severe pain, and results in prolonged mechanical ventilation. Rib fixation plates have been developed and manufactured for use in adult patients with improved outcomes over expectant management. The authors report the first case of rib fixation using titanium plates in a child after sustaining signi...

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 Multiple rib fractures cause significant pain and potential for chest wall instability. Despite an emerging trend of surgical management of flail chest injuries, there are no studies examining the effect of rib fracture fixation on respiratory function. OBJECTIVES Using a novel full thorax human cadaveric breathing model, we sought to explore the effect of flail chest injury and su...

 Class I: Prospective randomized controlled trial.  Class II: Prospective clinical study or retrospective analysis of reliable data. Includes observational, cohort, prevalence, or case control studies.  Class III: Retrospective study. Includes database or registry reviews, large series of case reports, expert opinion.  Technology assessment: A technology study which does not lend itself to ...