Open AccessRib fractures, a public health issue-a multi regional retrospective study
Author(s) -
Irina Drăgan,
Ioan Petrache,
Valerian Cristian Păvăloiu,
Petruț Giuliano,
Ion Mîndrilă,
Alin Demetrian,
Dan Cârțu,
D. Marinescu,
Valeriu Șurlin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jurnal de chirurgie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1584-9341
DOI - 10.7438/jsurg.2021.01.03
Subject(s) - hemothorax , medicine , pneumothorax , rib cage , incidence (geometry) , retrospective cohort study , complication , surgery , cardiothoracic surgery , physics , optics , anatomy
We performed a retrospective study focusing on examining all rib fracture cases discharged from 4 thoracicsurgery clinics in Romania. Over a period of 3 years, we analyzed data regarding the patients, diagnosis andnumber of days spent in the hospital. 2.417 patients were included in this study and all patient evolutionswere taken into account. The most patients suffered from multiple rib fractures, involving four or more ribs. Intotal average hospital stay was 5.46 days. The pneumothorax was the most common encounteredcomplication followed by hemo-pneumothorax, hemothorax and lung contusion. Men seem to be at a higherrisk to develop a rib fracture than women. Fracture incidence increased with age in both sexes. The main goalwhen treating thoracic traumatic pathology is attaining less impairment of pulmonary functions and fast socialreintegration. Management of rib fractures must be tailored to each individual case.