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RIB FRACTURES IN MAJOR TRAUMA
Author(s) -
Cameron Peter,
Dziukas Linas,
Hadj Afif,
Clark Peter,
Hooper Susan
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1996.tb00803.x
Subject(s) - medicine , medical emergency
Background: To determine the mortality, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay of rib fractures in patients admitted to Victorian hospitals for more than 1 day. Methods: All patients fitting the entry criteria for the Victorian Major Trauma Study with fractured ribs were identified between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1993. Aetiology, age, sex, associated injury and outcome were analysed. Results: Patients with rib fractures had a higher mortality and length of hospital stay, but this was not significantly different from other trauma. A significantly higher percentage of patients required ICU care for rib fractures (44%) compared with the total group with blunt injury (24%). The majority of rib fractures resulted from motor vehicle accidents 361/541 (67%). Injuries occurring on the street/highway resulting in rib fractures were more likely to be major; 62% had Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15. Fractured ribs occurred more commonly with increased age. Mortality for patients with fractured ribs versus total trauma group was higher in elderly patients. Univariate analysis showed rib fractures were a positive predictor of death but when adjusted for ISS and age, rib fractures became a negative predictor. Rib fractures were not predictors for length of ICU or hospital stay. Conclusion: The sample of rib fractures collected in this study underestimates the overall incidence. For those patients admitted to hospital with identified rib fractures, there is a trend towards higher mortality and morbidity. However, this association is better predicted by ISS and age.