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Biomechanics of Rib Fracture Fixation

  • Chapter
Injuries to the Chest Wall

Abstract

The goal of fracture fixation is restoring bony alignment and stability during healing to promote a timely return to normal function. For rib fractures, however, fracture fixation can be a life-saving intervention in select cases of flail chest injury. Conversely, without rib fracture fixation, patients can experience progressive pulmonary dysfunction and long-term morbidity, pain, and disability. Novel osteosynthesis systems specifically designed for rib fractures have greatly simplified the surgical procedure and provide reliable fixation. Several studies employing these novel rib fixation implants have demonstrated excellent clinical results. This chapter describes the biomechanics supporting currently available devices for rib fracture fixation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Portland Biomechanics Laboratory, Legacy Research Institute, 1225 NE 2nd Avenue, Portland, OR, 97232, USA

    Michael Bottlang Ph.D. & William B. Long M.D.

Authors
  1. Michael Bottlang Ph.D.
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  2. William B. Long M.D.
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Correspondence to Michael Bottlang Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Michael D. McKee

  2. Division of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Emil H. Schemitsch

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Bottlang, M., Long, W.B. (2015). Biomechanics of Rib Fracture Fixation. In: McKee, M., Schemitsch, E. (eds) Injuries to the Chest Wall. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18624-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18624-5_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-18623-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-18624-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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