Memory alloy embracing fixator in treatment of multiple fractured ribs and flail chest

BACKGROUND： With the development of internal fixation materials, simple operation with internal fixation has become a tendency. Ni-Ti shape memory alloy embracing fixator has such advantages as slight injury, easy operation, security, reliable fixation, and better histocompatibility. The present study was to explore curative effect and postoperative results of Ti-Ni shape memory alloy embracing ？ xator in patients with multiple fractured ribs and ？ ail chest.METHODS： The curative effect and long-term follow-up results were observed after internal ？ xation with a shape memory alloy embracing ？ xator in patients with multiple fractured ribs and ？ ail chest from January 2006 to December 2009.RESULTS： All patients were cured with an average hospital stay of 10.31±3.14 days. Post-operative pain was less severe than preoperative pain （P=0.02）.The rate of postoperative complications such as atelectasis, pulmonary infection, etc was 17.65%. There were fewer long-term complications and less in？ uence on daily work and life.CONCLUSIONS： It is practical to perform an operation for fracture of multiple ribs using a Ti-Ni shape memory alloy embracing ？ xator. The ？ xator, which is less traumatic, simple, safe, and reliable, has a good-histocompatibility and fewer postoperative complications.

Rib Osteosynthesis for Sub-Acute Management of a Flail Chest in a Tertiary Centre in a Low-Middle Income Country of Sub-Saharan Africa: Case Report at Douala Laquintinie Hospital

Background: Costal fracture surgical is still a debate, therefore we shall select between early and delay surgical management. Case Report: We are reporting two cases of post road traffic clash delay ribs fractures osteosynthesis involving a 63-year-old man with multistage fractures on the left and pulmonary pinning of one of the costal arches, complicated by a homolateral haemothorax and a 41-year-old man with a bilateral flail chest. Conclusion: The simple postoperative course and the immediate postoperative improvement in the patient’s clinical respiratory condition enabled us to discuss the time frame for management, in this case the indication for early or later surgery.

Application of Grooved Negative Pressure Drainage Tube in Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures

Objective: To explore the application value of disposable grooved negative pressure drainage tubes in rib fracture incision and internal fixation. Methods: Seventy-five patients admitted to our Department of Trauma Surgery from June 2022 to April 2024 who underwent rib fracture osteotomy and internal fixation were selected. According to the types of drainage tubes left in the patients after the operation, they were divided into the observation group (35 cases who were left with disposable grooved negative pressure drainage tubes) and the control group (40 cases who were left with closed silicone thoracic drainage tubes). Comparison of chest drainage, pain, postoperative complications, secondary chest penetration rate, drain placement time, hospitalization time, and treatment costs were compared between the two groups. Results: The total postoperative chest drainage volume of the observation group was less than that of the control group (P < 0.05);the degree of pain, the incidence of postoperative complications, and the rate of secondary chest puncture in the observation group were lower than that of the control group three days after the operation (P < 0.05);and the time of drain placement in the observation group was shorter than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The application of disposable grooved negative pressure drainage tubes in rib fracture incision and internal fixation can significantly improve patients’ postoperative pain and discomfort, reduce complications, lower the rate of secondary chest penetration, promote patients’ postoperative recovery, decrease the amount of postoperative chest drainage, and shorten the time of drain placement, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Undetected traumatic cardiac herniation like playing hide-and-seek-delayed incidental findings during surgical stabilization of flail chest:A case report

BACKGROUND Post-traumatic blunt pericardial injury is a rare condition with only a few reported cases which were generally diagnosed during initial examinations upon admission.However,pericardial injuries not bad enough to dislocate the heart may only cause intermittent electrocardiogram(ECG)changes or be asymptomatic.CASE SUMMARY In this case,we report a blunt pericardial injury undetected on preoperative transthoracic echocardiography and chest computed tomography.We misjudged intermittent ECG changes and blood pressure fluctuations as minor symptoms resulting from cardiac contusion and did not provide intensive treatment.The pericardial injury was found incidentally during surgical stabilization of rib fractures and was successfully repaired.CONCLUSION Post-traumatic blunt pericardial ruptures should be considered in patients with blunt chest trauma showing abnormal vital signs and ECG changes.

The Chinese consensus for surgical treatment of traumatic rib fractures 2021(C-STTRF 2021)

Rib fracture is the most common injury in chest trauma.Most of patients with rib fractures were treated conservatively,but up to 50%of patients,especially those with combined injury such as flail chest,presented chronic pain or chest wall deformities,and more than 30%had long-term disabilities,unable to retain a full-time job.In the past two decades,surgery for rib fractures has achieving good outcomes.However,in clinic,there are still some problems including inconsistency in surgical indications and quality control in medical services.Before the year of 2018,there were 3 guidelines on the management of regional traumatic rib fractures were published at home and abroad,focusing on the guidance of the overall treatment decisions and plans;another clinical guideline about the surgical treatment of rib fractures lacks recent related progress in surgical treatment of rib fractures.The Chinese Society of Traumatology,Chinese Medical Association,and the Chinese College of Trauma Surgeons,Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts from cardiothoracic surgery,trauma surgery,acute care surgery,orthopedics and other disciplines to participate together,following the principle of evidence-based medicine and in line with the scientific nature and practicality,formulated the Chinese consensus for surgical treatment of traumatic rib fractures(STTRF 2021).This expert consensus put forward some clear,applicable,and graded recommendations from seven aspects:preoperative imaging evaluation,surgical indications,timing of surgery,surgical methods,rib fracture sites for surgical fixation,internal fixation method and material selection,treatment of combined injuries in rib fractures,in order to provide guidance and reference for surgical treatment of traumatic rib fractures.

Comparison of ultrasonography and radiography in diagnosis of rib fractures

Purpose： Rib fractures are the most common skeletal thoracic injuries resulting from blunt chest trauma. Half of the rib fractures are not detected upon a precise physical evaluation and radiographs. Recently ultrasonography （USG） has been investigated to detect rib fractures. But based on literature the usefulness of USG varies widely. This study was conducted to investigate the role of USG in the detection of possible rib fractures in comparison with radiography. Methods： In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients with minor blunt chest trauma and suspected rib fractures presenting in Imam Reza Hospital located in Mashhad-Iran, between April 2013 and October 2013 were assessed by USG and radiography. The radiography was performed in a posteroanterior （PA） chest projection and oblique rib view centered over the area of trauma. The time duration spent in taking USG and radiography were recorded. The prevalence and location of fractures revealed by USG and radiography were compared. Results： Sixty-one suspected patients were assessed. The male to female ratio was 2.4：1 （43 men and 18 women） with a mean ± SD age of （44.3 ± 19.7） years. There were totally 59 rib fractures in 38 （62.3%） patients based on radiography and USG, while 23 （37.7%） patients had no diagnostic evidence of rib lesions. USG revealed 58 rib fractures in 33 （54.1%） of 61 suspected patients and radiographs revealed 32 rib fractures in 20 （32.8%） of 61 patients. A total of 58 （98.3%） rib fractures were detected by USG, whereas oblique rib view and PA chest radiography showed 27 （45.8%） and 24 （40.7%） rib fractures, respectively. The average duration of USG was （12 ± 3） min （range 7e17 min）, whereas the duration of radiography was （27 ± 6） min （range 15-37 min）. The kappa coefficient showed a low level of agreement between both USG and PA chest radiography （kappa coefficient=0.28）, and between USG and oblique rib view （kappa coefficient=0.32）. Conclusion： USG discloses more fractures than radiography in most patients presenting with suspected rib fractures. Moreover USG requires significantly less time than radiography.

First rib fractures： not always a hallmark of severe trauma a report of three cases

According to medical literature, fracture of the first rib is quite rare and the bilateral condition is especially rare. This type of fracture is usually associated with severe intrathoracic trauma and other bony or neurovascular injuries, thus can be considered as a harbinger of major trauma. However here we present three cases of low velocity first rib fractures without any major trauma or multisystem injuries. All the three patients were treated conservatively and did well on simple analgesics and rest and had no early or late complications. It can be seen that not all the first rib fractures are associated with major trauma or multisystem injuries. There is a variant of first rib fracture with low velocity injuries which is not associated with any major complications in contrast to majority of first rib fractures associated with high velocity injuries. Causative factor of such injuries may be violent muscular contraction of scalenus anterior or serratus anterior, but not direct trauma.

Correlation of rib fracture patterns with abdominal solid organ injury: A retrospective observational cohort study

Purpose::Rib fractures are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality and are associated with abdominal solid organ injury(ASOI).The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of ASOI with the number,location,and involved segments of rib fracture(s)in blunt chest trauma.Methods::This retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with blunt chest trauma over the age of 15 years,who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of rib fractures from July 2015 to September 2020.After ethic committee approval,a retrospective chart review was designed and patients with a diagnosis of rib fractures were selected.Patients who had chest and abdominopelvic CT scan were included in the study and additional data including age,gender,injury severity score,trauma mechanism,number and sides of the fractured ribs(left/right/bilateral),rib fracture segments(upper,middle,lower zone)and results of chest and abdominal spiral CT scan were recorded.The correlation between ASOI and the sides,segments and number of rib fracture(s)was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient.Results::Altogether 1056 patients with rib fracture(s)were included.The mean age was(42.76±13.35)years and 85.4%were male.The most common mechanism of trauma was car accident(34.6%).Most fractures occurred in the middle rib zone(60.44%)and the most commonly involved ribs were the 6th and 7th ones(15.7%and 16.4%,respectively).Concurrent abdominal injuries were observed in 103 patients(34.91%)and were significantly associated with middle zone rib fractures.Conclusion::There is a significant relationship between middle zone rib fractures and ASOI.Intra-abdominal injuries are not restricted to fractures of the lower ribs and thus should always be kept in mind during management of blunt trauma patients with rib fractures.

Kirschner wire migration from the right second rib to the right ventricle： a case report

Migrations of orthopedic wires to car- diovascular system are uncommon and rarely reported. We report a case of right ventricle embolization with the Kirschner wire that was used for right 2nd rib osteosynthesis 2 years and 8 months previously in a 50-year-old man. The patient was asymptomatic and migration of the Kirschner wire was discovered by routine chest X-ray. An 8 cm-long Kirschner wire was successfully retrieved from the right ventricle. The treatment strategy for Kirschner wire removal from right ventricle is discussed.

Blunt trauma related chest wall and pulmonary injuries: An overview

Physical traumas are tragic and multifaceted injuries that suddenly threaten life.Although it is the third most common cause of death in all age groups,one out of four trauma patients die due to thoracic injury or its complications.Blunt injuries constitute the majority of chest trauma.This indicates the im porta nee of chest trauma among all traumas.Blunt chest trauma is usually caused by motor vehicle accident,falling from height,blunt instrument injury and physical assault.As a result of chest trauma,many injuries may occur,such as pulm onary injuries,and these require urge nt in terve ntion.Chest wall and pulmonary injuries range from rib fractures to flail chest,pneumothorax to hemothorax and pulmonary contusion to tracheobronchial injuries.Following these injuries,patients may present with a simple dyspnea or even respiratory arrest.For such patie nt,it is imports nt to understa nd the treatme nt logic and to take a multidisciplinary approach to treat the pulmonary and chest wall injuries.This is because only 10%of thoracic trauma patients require surgical operation and the remaining 90%can be treated with simple methods such as appropriate airway,oxygen support,maneuvers,volume support and tube thoracostomy.Adequate pain control in chest trauma is sometimes the most basic and best treatment.With definite diagnosis,the morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced by simple treatment methods.

Bilateral segmental pelvic and femoral fractures in a young female： A rare case report

The management of multiple complicated injured patients remains a great challenge despite advance- ments in modern medical care. We present a rare case of bilateral unstable pelvic fractures associated with bilateral segmental femoral shaft fractures. We have proposed a mechanism of such complex injury pattern and discussed the plan of management. We believe that a timely and aggressive surgical inter- vention to fix all the major fractures soon after medically stabilizing the patient helped our patient tc overcome these serious and lethal injuries. It is necessary to establish an optimal protocol for man- agement of such complex fractures by conducting prospective and multicentric studies in the future.