Abstract
Complications related to rib fracture fixation must be discerned from complications directly related to the underlying chest trauma. Pneumonia, empyema, ARDS, and prolonged ventilation are all common in this population, but it appears that these complications may be reduced with rib fracture fixation suggesting that they are not the result of fixation in most cases. Patients undergoing fixation have low rates of wound infection, hardware infection, plate migration, bleeding, chronic pain, dyspnea, or chest tightness. Further long-term follow-up studies determine the true incidence of these complications.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bulger EM, et al. Rib fractures in the elderly. J Trauma. 2000;48(6):1040–6. discussion 1046–7
Balci AE, et al. Open fixation in flail chest: review of 64 patients. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2004;12(1):11–5.
Granetzny A, et al. Surgical versus conservative treatment of flail chest. Evaluation of the pulmonary status. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2005;4(6):583–7.
Leinicke JA, et al. Operative management of rib fractures in the setting of flail chest: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Surg. 2013;258(6):914–21.
Bhatnagar A, Mayberry J, Nirula R. Rib fracture fixation for flail chest: what is the benefit? J Am Coll Surg. 2012;215(2):201–5.
Nirula R, et al. Rib fracture stabilization in patients sustaining blunt chest injury. Am Surg. 2006;72(4):307–9.
Marasco SF, et al. Prospective randomized controlled trial of operative rib fixation in traumatic flail chest. J Am Coll Surg. 2013;216(5):924–32.
Majercik S, et al. Long-term patient outcomes after surgical stabilization of rib fractures. Am J Surg. 2014;208(1):88–92.
Slobogean GP, et al. Surgical fixation vs nonoperative management of flail chest: a meta-analysis. J Am Coll Surg. 2013;216(2):302–11. e1
Bauza G, et al. High mortality in elderly drivers is associated with distinct injury patterns: analysis of 187,869 injured drivers. J Trauma. 2008;64(2):304–10.
Brasel KJ, et al. Rib fractures: relationship with pneumonia and mortality. Crit Care Med. 2006;34(6):1642–6.
Kent R, Woods W, Bostrom O. Fatality risk and the presence of rib fractures. Ann Adv Automotive Med. 2008;52:73–82.
Sharma OP, et al. Perils of rib fractures. Am Surg. 2008;74(4):310–4.
Battle CE, Hutchings H, Evans PA. Risk factors that predict mortality in patients with blunt chest wall trauma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Injury. 2012;43(1):8–17.
Sirmali M, et al. A comprehensive analysis of traumatic rib fractures: morbidity, mortality and management. Eur J Cardio-Thoracic Surg. 2003;24(1):133–8.
Tanaka H, et al. Surgical stabilization of internal pneumatic stabilization? A prospective randomized study of management of severe flail chest patients. J Trauma. 2002;52(4):727–32. discussion 732
Voggenreiter G, et al. Operative chest wall stabilization in flail chest—outcomes of patients with or without pulmonary contusion. J Am Coll Surg. 1998;187(2):130–8.
Ahmed Z, Mohyuddin Z. Management of flail chest injury: internal fixation versus endotracheal intubation and ventilation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1995;110(6):1676–80.
Nirula R, Mayberry JC. Rib fracture fixation: controversies and technical challenges. Am Surg. 2010;76(8):793–802.
National Trauma Data Bank. American College of Surgeons.
Lardinois D, et al. Pulmonary function testing after operative stabilisation of the chest wall for flail chest. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001;20(3):496–501.
Ohresser P, et al. The functional sequelae of closed thoracic injuries (apropos of 92 cases). Poumon Coeur. 1972;28(3):145–50.
Wiese MN, et al. Functional results after chest wall stabilization with a new screwless fixation device. Eur J Cardio-Thoracic Surg. 2015;47(5):868–75.
Althausen PL, et al. Early surgical stabilization of flail chest with locked plate fixation. J Orthop Trauma. 2011;25(11):641–7.
Bottlang M, et al. Less-invasive stabilization of rib fractures by intramedullary fixation: a biomechanical evaluation. J Trauma. 2010;68(5):1218–24.
Campbell N, Richardson M, Antippa P. Biomechanical testing of two devices for internal fixation of fractured ribs. J Trauma. 2010;68(5):1234–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Nirula, R. (2018). Postoperative Complications After Rib Fracture Repair. In: de Moya, M., Mayberry, J. (eds) Rib Fracture Management . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91644-6_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91644-6_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-91643-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-91644-6
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)