ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of surgical and traditional treatments for multiple rib fractures through systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsCNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, OVID, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Thieme and Springer Link database for information from inception to July 2019 were screened by computer. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of surgical and conventional methods for the treatment of multiple rib fractures were screened, assessed and extracted. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.ResultsTwelve studies were included, including 1 039 patients. There were 512 patients in the operation group and 527 patients in the traditional treatment group. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of pneumonia (RR=0.41, 99%CI 0.29 to 0.58, P<0.000 01), incidence of atelectasis (RR=0.24, 99%CI 0.06 to 0.94, P=0.007), duration of mechanical ventilation (SMD=–2.64, 99%CI –4.38 to –0.91, P<0.000 1), duration of intensive care unit stay (SMD=–1.33, 99%CI –2.26 to –0.40, P=0.000 2), duration of hospital stay (SMD=–2.25, 99%CI –3.30 to –1.19, P<0.000 01)and incidence of chest wall deformity (RR=0.08, 99%CI 0.04 to 0.17, P<0.000 01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the hospital mortality (RR=0.75, 99%CI 0.23 to 2.46, P=0.53), incidence of tracheostomy (RR= 0.69, 99%CI 0.39 to 1.21, P=0.09), ventilator support rate (RR=0.65, 99%CI 0.41 to 1.05, P=0.02) and chest drainage time (SMD=–2.58, 99%CI –6.41 to 1.25, P=0.08).ConclusionSurgical treatment of multiple rib fractures can reduce pulmonary complications, shorten hospital stay, and reduce the incidence of chest wall deformity, which is conducive to rapid recovery and improves quality of life.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility to use pain scale and arterial oxygen partial pressure(PaO2)as screening internal fixation indications for patients with multiple rib fractures. MethodsClinical data of 48 patients with multiple rib fractures who were admitted to Shanghai Pudong Hospital from September 2010 to February 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for pain assessment. Twenty-four patients whose VAS was greater than or equal to 6 and PaO2 was less than 60 mm Hg 3 days after injury were chosen as the experimental group, including 16 males and 8 females with their age of 49.29±15.73 years. Another 24 patients whose VAS was less than or equal to 5 and PaO2 was greater than 60 mm Hg 3 days after injury were chosen as the control group, including 19 males and 5 females with their age of 48.63±13.49 years. Patients in both groups received rib internal fixation with steel plates. Three days and 1 week after surgery respectively, VAS and PaO2 were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsIn the experimental group, VAS 3 days after surgery was significantly lower than preoperative VAS (4.09±0.93 vs. 8.21±1.18, P < 0.05), and VAS 1 week after surgery was significantly lower than preoperative VAS (3.20±0.98 vs. 8.21±1.18, P < 0.05). In the control group, there was no statistical difference between VAS 3 days after surgery and preoperative VAS (P > 0.05), and there was no statistical difference between VAS 1 week after surgery and preoperative VAS (P > 0.05). Three days after surgery, PaO2 of the experimental group was significantly higher than preoperative PaO2 (61.00±3.47 mm Hg vs. 53.00±3.97 mm Hg, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between PaO2 3 days after surgery and preoperative PaO2 in the control group (66.71±5.15 mm Hg vs. 66.00±5.00 mm Hg, P > 0.05). Three days after surgery, pneumonia occurred in 4 patients in the experimental group and 2 patients in the control group (χ2=0.762, P > 0.05). Three days after surgery, pain scale reduction of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.13±1.45 vs. 0.00±0.42, P < 0.05). One week after surgery, pain scale reduction of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (5.04±1.23 vs. 0.08±0.28, P < 0.05). Three days after surgery, PaO2 increase of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (7.42±3.59 mm Hg vs. 0.21±0.98 mmHg, P < 0.05). ConclusionIt's reasonable and feasible to use pain scale greater than or equal to 6 and PaO2 less than 60 mm Hg as internal fixation indications for patients with multiple rib fractures.
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 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.