ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of fast track surgery (FTS) in rib fracture fixation. MethodsFifty-two patients with chest trauma who underwent rib fracture fixation surgery in Mingji Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2010 to June 2013 were enrolled in this study. All the patients were divided into FTS group and control group. In the FTS group, there were 26 patients including 22 males and 4 females with their age of 45.62±8.20 years, who received FTS strategies. In the control group, there were 26 patients including 21 males and 5 females with their age of 46.42±7.60 years, who received traditional treatment strategies. Postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), gastrointestinal function recovery time, postoperative hospital stay and hospitalization cost were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsVAS at 6 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively of FTS group (4.5±0.3, 4.2±0.2, 3.2±0.1) were significantly lower than those of the control group (6.5±0.1, 6.1±0.3, 4.8±0.2) respectively (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal function recovery time of FTS group (0.8±0.2 days) was significantly shorter than that of the control group (1.5±0.5 days, P < 0.05). Length of hospital stay (21.0±2.6 days) and hospitalization cost (5.18±0.75 ten thousand yuan) of FTS group were significantly shorter or lower than those of the control group (26.2±3.4 days and 5.78±0.64 ten thousand yuan) respectively (P < 0.05). ConclusionFTS strategies can effectively reduce postoperative VAS, shorten length of hospital stay, decrease hospitalization cost, and promote postoperative recovery of rib fracture patients.