Objective To evaluate clinical efficacy of four-claw Ti-planes for internal fixation of multiple rib fractures and flail chest. Methods Clinical data of 93 patients with multiple rib fractures and flail chest who were admittedto Shanghai Pudong Hospital from December 2011 to November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 78 male and 15 female patients with their age of 20-80 years. All the patients received internal fixation of rib fractures using four-clawTi-planes. Finite element modeling and analysis were performed to investigate biomechanical behaviors of rib fractures after internal fixation with four-claw Ti-planes. Results The average number of rib fractures of the 93 patients was 5.9±2.1，and each patient received 3.8±1.3 four-claw Ti-planes for internal fixation. The operations were performed 6.3±3.2 days after admission. After the rib fractures were fixed with four-claw Ti-planes，rib dislocations and chest-wall collapse of flail chest were restored，and patients’ pain was relieved. Postoperative CT image reconstruction of the chest showed no dislocationor displacement at the fixation areas of the four-claw Ti-planes. Rib fractures were stabilized well，and normal contours of the chest were restored. Finite element analysis showed that the maximum bearable stress of the rib fractures after internal fixation with four-claw Ti-planes was twice as large as normal ribs. Conclusion Clinical outcomes of four-claw Ti-planesfor internal fixation of rib fractures are satisfactory with small incisions and less muscle injury of the chest wall，so this technique deserves wide clinical use.
Objective To study the indications, methods, and therapeutic effect of absorbable rib-connecting-pins fixation in the treatment of multi ple rib fractures. Methods Between March 2007 and September 2009, 40 patients with multiple rib fractures received internal fixation with absorbable rib-connecting-pins, including 8 one-side flail chest and 1 twoside flail chest. There were 32 males and 8 females with an average age of 39.8 years (range, 25-72 years). The injury was caused by traffic accident in 32 cases, fall ing from height in 6 cases, and blunt hitting in 2 cases. Preoperatively, imaging data of the chest X-ray or spiral CT three-dimensional (3D) examination showed that all patients had multiple ribs fractures and displacement. The number of fractured ribs was 4-10 (median, 6), and the fracture location ranged from the 2nd to the10th ribs. Of them, 28 cases were accompanied by hemathorax, pneumathorax or hemopneumothorax; 5 cases by thoracic organ injury; and 10 cases byother part trauma. The time from injury to hospital ization was less than 1 day in 26 cases, 1-3 days in 12 cases, and 3-6 days in 2 cases, and the time from hospital ization to operation was 3 hours to 3 days (mean, 1.2 days). Results The median fixation rib number was 5 (range, 3-8). The mean operative time, the time in bed, and hospital ization days were 32 minutes (range, 15-50 minutes), 4.5 days (range, 2-7 days), and 11.2 days (range, 5-18 days), respectively. All incisions healed by first intention. No pulmonary infection, pulmonary atelectasis, intrathoracic infection or other compl ications occurred. All cases were followedup 6-12 months (mean, 8 months). PaO2 [(86.6 ± 2.2) mmHg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)] and SpO2 (97.2% ± 0.6%) at 2 hours after operation were obviously improved when compared with preoperative ones [PaO2 (53.6 ± 4.7) mm Hg and SpO2 (86.2% ± 1.8%)], showing significant differences (t=2.971, P=0.005; t=2.426, P=0.020). The chest X-ray films or spiral CT 3D indicated that fracture of rib healed within 3-6 months (mean, 4.5 months) after operation. Conclusion Severe collapsed chest wall orflail chest caused by fracture of multiple ribs should be treated by absorbable rib-connecting-pins, which is a simple, firm, and effective method.
Objective To investigate the tunnel-type open reduction and internal fixation of rib fractures (ORIF) with titanium locking plate in traumatic rib fractures. Methods Clinical data of 10 patients with multiple rib fractures from June 2016 to January 2017 in the Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University were analyzed. There were 6 males and 4 males with an average age of 38.5±9.0 years (range, 30–63 years). All patients underwent emergency treatment, chest CT and ultrasound examination before they admitted to the hospital. According to rib fractures and injuries, patients were given the tunnel-type ORIF of rib fractures with titanium locking plates, the chest tube and negative suction drainage. The patients were followed up over three months. Results All patients were cured. There was no complication during follow-up. No wound infection and death occurred. Postoperative three-month follow-up showed that chest pain was significantly relieved without pulmonary atelectasis and pleural effusion or other complications. Conclusion Tunnel-type internal fixation of rib fractures with titanium locking plates is effective, which can quickly restore the stability and integrity of the thorax. Surgical procedure is simple and can get fast postoperative recovery to improve the patient's quality of life.
Objective To compare clinical outcomes between the performed titanium locking plate and nickel-titanium memory alloy embracing fixator for the treatment of multiple rib fractures, and to select a better internal fixator for multiple rib fractures. Methods A total of 206 consecutive patients with multiple rib fractures were admitted to Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Beijing Luhe Hospital of Capital Medical University from October 2011 to September 2016. According to different treatment strategies, the patients were divided into 2 groups: a performed titanium locking plate group (a titanium plate group, n=105) and a nickel-titanium memory alloy embracing fixator group (an embracing fixator group, n=101). There were 82 males and 23 females with a mean age of 46.5±9.7 years ranging from 23 to 65 years in the titanium plate group, and 83 males and 18 females with a mean age of 44.7±10.3 years ranging from 19 to 63 years in the embracing fixator group. The preoperative data, curative outcomes, visual analogue scale (VAS) and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results There was no statistical difference in the preoperative data between the two groups, and all patients successfully completed the operation. Compared with the embracing fixator group, the incision length and operation time were shorter, intraoperative bleeding and VAS score were less, and curative outcome was better in the titanium plate group. Conclusion The performed titanium locking plate has a great advantage in the clinic, which can be preferred.
The incidence of rib fracture in patients with chest trauma is about 70%. Simple rib fractures do not need special treatment. Multiple rib fractures and flail chest are critical cases of blunt trauma, which often cause serious clinical consequences and need to be treated cautiously. Nowadays, there is a controversy about the diagnosis and treatment of multiple rib fractures and flail chest. In the past, most of the patients were treated by non-operative treatment, and only less than 1% of the patients with flail chest underwent surgery. In recent years, studies have confirmed that surgical reduction and internal fixation can shorten the hospital stay, and reduce pain and cost for patients with flail chest, but there is still a lack of relevant clinical consensus and guidelines for diagnosis and treatment, which leads to great differences in clinical diagnosis and treatment plans. This article reviewed the treatment, surgical indications and surgical timing of multiple rib fractures and flail chest.