Surgical treatment of multiple rib fractures and flail chest in trauma: a one-year follow-up study

Eva-Corina Caragounis, Monika Fagevik Olsén, David Pazooki, Hans Granhed, Eva-Corina Caragounis, Monika Fagevik Olsén, David Pazooki, Hans Granhed

Abstract

Background: Multiple rib fractures and unstable thoracic cage injuries are common in blunt trauma. Surgical management of rib fractures has received increasing attention in recent years and the aim of this 1-year, prospective study was to assess the long-term effects of surgery.

Methods: Fifty-four trauma patients with median Injury Severity Score 20 (9-66) and median New Injury Severity Score 34 (16-66) who presented with multiple rib fractures and flail chest, and underwent surgical stabilization with plate fixation were recruited. Patients responded to a standardized questionnaire concerning pain, local discomfort, breathlessness and use of analgesics and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3 L) questionnaire at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Lung function, breathing movements, range of motion and physical function were measured at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.

Results: Symptoms associated with pain, breathlessness and use of analgesics significantly decreased from 6 weeks to 1 year following surgery. After 1 year, 13 % of patients complained of pain at rest, 47 % had local discomfort and 9 % used analgesics. The EQ-5D-3 L index increased from 0.78 to 0.93 and perceived overall health state increased from 60 to 90 % (p < 0.0001) after 6 weeks to 1 year. Lung function improved significantly with predicted Forced vital capacity and Peak expiratory flow increasing from 86 to 106 % (p = 0.0002) and 81 to 110 % (p < 0.0001), respectively, from 3 months to 1 year after surgery. Breathing movements and range of motion tended to improve over time. Physical function improved significantly over time and the median Disability rating index was 0 after 1 year.

Conclusions: Patients with multiple rib fractures and flail chest show a gradual improvement in symptoms associated with pain, quality of life, mobility, disability and lung function over 1 year post surgery. Therefore, the final outcome of surgery cannot be assessed before 1 year post-operatively.

Keywords: Flail chest; Lung function; Quality of life; Rib fractures; Surgery; Trauma.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow-chart of patients included in the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Quality of life measured by EQ-5D-3 L, showing the percentage of patients with some or extreme difficulties and median EQ-5D-3 L index values at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year follow-up

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