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New insights into the pathophysiology of flail segment: the implications of anterior serratus muscle in parietal failure.

OBJECTIVE: The wisdom of surgery facing multiple and multi-focal ribs fractures (flail segment) remains controversial. By the present retrospective study, we sought to determine the advisability of surgery as well as the anatomical and biomechanical features of flail segment leading to secondary dislocation. METHOD: From 1970 to 2000, 127 patients underwent flail segment osteosynthesis. Clinical charts, operative reports and imaging data were reviewed retrospectively. Rib osteosynthesis was carried out with Judet staple and Kirschner wires until 1980, since then it has been undertaken with sliding-staples-struts. Postoperative chest X-ray was carried out to classify the flail segments into anterolateral and posterolateral types according to the location of anterior and posterior rib fractures. Each type was then divided into three subgroups of primary parietal, secondary parietal and retreat indications that were inferred retrospectively from final indications of rib osteosynthesis. RESULTS: The mean age of patients (ranging in age from 20 to 84 years) was 56+/-14.4 years with a male predominance (108/19). Seventy percent of flail segments was considered as posterolateral. The mean number of rib fractures per patient was 6+/-0.35. Rib osteosynthesis was undertaken with sliding-staples-struts in 70% of patients. The overall hospital mortality was 16%; it was subsequently reduced to 8% since sliding-staples-struts were used. The mean duration of ventilation was reduced from 5.8+/-0.76 days to 2.98+/-0.83 days with sliding-staples-struts. Seventy-seven percent of patients with posterolateral flail segment and primary parietal indication were extubated within the first 48 h postoperatively, whereas 46% of patients from other subgroups required ventilation for more than 5 days. Similarly, 83% of patients of the former subgroup returned to full previous level of activity compared with a rate of 52% for the latter subgroups. The flail segments were dislocated superoposteriorly for both anterolateral and posterolateral types, evoking the action of anterior serratus muscle. CONCLUSIONS: The anterolateral and posterolateral flail segments are rendered susceptible to secondary dislocation through a complex set of factors, of which the action of anterior serratus muscle is obvious. Restoration of parietal mechanics by early surgical reduction/fixation is a reliable therapeutic option in selected patients and offers encouraging results.

Adult↗

[Treatment of flail chest].

We present our experience in the treatment of 82 patients with flail chest (FC). They were evaluated according to the number of fractured ribs, which apparently correlates with the degree of lung contusion. Treatment methods compared were oxygen mask therapy, epidural analgesia, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) plus positive end respiratory pressure (PEEP), and high frequency ventilation (HFV) plus PEEP. Oxygen therapy alone was not effective in those with more than 5 fractured ribs, while CPAP was effective in those with up to 10 fractured ribs. No significant difference was found between IMV and HFV. The purpose of respiratory support in FC is to reduce atelectasis and the resulting shunt, and to improve removal of mucus from airways. The patients were discharged without compromise in respiratory function, despite persistence of FC. We conclude that the primary mechanism of respiratory impairment in FC is not the mechanical disturbance, but rather the degree of lung contusion suffered.

Adult↗

[Chest trauma: analysis of 126 cases].

To evaluate our experience in chest trauma we review the records of the patients admitted for chest trauma to our service between December 1994 and April 2000. There were 126 patients (113 males, 89.7%), with an age range of 7 to 96 years (mean 35.3). The most frequent cause of chest injury were traffic accidents 48 cases (38%) and 73 cases (57.9%) were victims of blunt trauma. In 36 cases there was a politrauma. Hemo and/or pneumothorax represented the most common thoracic injury (85.7%). Rib fractures were present in 47 cases (36.2% with more than 3 rib fractures). Four patients sustained flail chest and 5 defect of thoracic wall. Six patients were pulmonary contusion and 8 intraparenchymal hematoma. Pleural drainage was performed in 106 cases (8 cases bilateral) and thoracotomy was indicated in 11 (6 cases emergency). Mortality was 6.9% (n:8), of which 4 belonged to politrauma group. Mortality is directly related with politrauma. In the patients of the chest trauma, aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in association with intensive care follow-up remains one of the most important points to decrease mortality and morbidity rate.

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Fractures of the sternum.

The records of 71 patients treated for sternal fracture were reviewed: 52 patients sustained isolated sternal fracture, 19 patients had a sternal fracture in combination with multiple other injuries, with in 12 patients only rib fractures. Forty-one patients were involved in a car accident, 29 of them used safety belts. Three patients (3/71, 4%) died, two multitrauma patients, in whom artificial ventilation was necessary, died of multiple organ failure. One patient with a sternal fracture and bilateral multiple rib fractures died of cardiac contusion and myocardial infarction. Three patients (3/71, 4%) showed signs of myocardial contusion. The morbidity in the patients with an isolated sternal fracture was very low. The prognosis of an isolated sternal fracture is good. Cardiac contusion was an uncommon complication of sternal fracture. Clinical observation for only a short period is advised.

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Rupture of the descending thoracic aorta caused by blunt chest trauma: report of a case.

A 66-year-old man fell from a tree and was diagnosed to have multiple fractured ribs and hemopneumothorax based upon the chest roentgenogram findings. He underwent chest tube drainage and evacuation using video-assisted thoracic surgery. One week after the operation, he exhibited recurrent hemothorax. He underwent a thoracotomy, and the hemothorax was found to be due to a penetration of the lower descending thoracic aorta by a fractured rib. We performed a direct closure of the penetrated portion of the descending thoracic aorta. The patient has remained well for 1 year following the second operation.

Accidental Falls↗

Symptomatic fracture incidence in elderly men and women: the Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study (DOES).

This longitudinal population-based study documents the incidence of all symptomatic fractures from 1989 to 1992 in an elderly, predominantly Caucasian population of males and females (> or = 60 years as at 1 January 1989) living in the geographically isolated region of the city of Dubbo, NSW, Australia. Fractures were ascertained by reviewing reports from all radiology services in the region. There were 306 fractures in 271 patients during the study period representing 11,401 person-years of observation. In the 60-80 year age group only 10% of fractures involved the hip, while in the over-80 age group this proportion rose to 41%. Incidence of distal forearm, hip and total fractures increased exponentially in both sexes with increasing age. Rib fractures were relatively common, with incidence rates for rib fractures similar to those for humeral fractures. Overall fracture incidence was 2685 per 100,000 person-years (males 1940 per 100,000 and females 3250 per 100,000). Residual lifetime fracture risk in a person aged 60 years with average life expectancy was 29% for males and 56% for females. Symptomatic fracture rates with the improved methodology in this study were higher than previously reported in both elderly males and females, with a marked preponderance of non-hip fractures in the 60-80 year age group. These symptomatic fractures have previously been underestimated, if not largely ignored, in public health approaches including cost-benefit analyses of osteoporosis prevention and treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Cardiac laceration and pericardial tamponade due to cardiopulmonary resuscitation after myocardial infarction.

Complications of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), such as rib fractures and pneumothorax, are not uncommon. The authors report the case of a 69-year-old woman who underwent surgery for a perforated duodenal ulcer. Eighteen hours postoperatively she sustained a cardiac arrest; vigorous resuscitation efforts, using advanced cardiac life-support procedures, failed. At autopsy, she had 350 mL of fresh blood in her pericardial sac, which had caused cardiac tamponade. Three ribs were fractured at the left sternal border. Directly underneath the fractured ribs were a 0.4-cm laceration of the pericardium and an accompanying 0.7-cm laceration of the left ventricle. There was an acute thrombus in the left anterior descending artery. Microscopic examination of the heart showed acute infarction of the left ventricle in the vicinity of the laceration. This case demonstrates that vigorous CPR performed on an acutely infarcted heart can result in lethal cardiac laceration and tamponade.

Aged↗

Cardiac contusion in pediatric patients with blunt thoracic trauma.

To investigate the prevalence of myocardial contusion associated with blunt chest trauma in the pediatric age group, all patients admitted to our institution during a 6-month period with blunt thoracic trauma severe enough to produce a pulmonary contusion or rib fracture were prospectively evaluated. Cardiac evaluation was undertaken, including a multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) cardiac scan, serial electrocardiograms (ECG), and serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and CPK isoenzymes. Seven patients, ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 18 years, with rib fractures or pulmonary contusion by chest roentgenograph were identified. One patient was injured as a passenger in a motor vehicle accident, five were struck by automobiles as pedestrians, and one sustained traumatic asphyxia when a car, supported by a jack, fell on his chest. All had at least one other major organ system injured. All patients had pulmonary contusions as determined by chest radiograph, and two had associated rib fractures. In 43% (three of seven) of patients, a significant cardiac contusion was identified, defined by abnormal right or left ventricular wall motion and a decreased ejection fraction on MUGA scan, and confirmed by an increase in cardiac enzymes and isoenzymes. However, in contrast with adults, no patients had ECG abnormalities. This limited series suggests that cardiac contusion may occur frequently in pediatric patients who have suffered from blunt thoracic trauma significant enough to result in pulmonary contusion. An MUGA scan provides a rapid, noninvasive assessment of cardiac damage in this setting. Further studies will be required to determine the clinical significance and long-term consequences of traumatic myocardial damage in the pediatric population.

Accidents, Traffic↗

[Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis. A new case].

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis is a rare disorder and its pathophysiology remains unknown. EXEGISIS: We report a case of pregnancy-associated osteoporosis in a 27-year-old primiparous patient, revealed by acute lumbar pain and a right costal pain during the last month of pregnancy. The standard radiographs showed multiple vertebral compression fracture and a 10th rib fracture. The diagnosis of osteoporosis was established by osteodensitometry. Diagnostic work-up excluded a secondary osteoporosis, and the outcome was favourable with an increase of bone mineral density after 2 years of treatment with calcium, vitamin D and alendronate 10 mg/j. CONCLUSION: Although rare, diagnosis of pregnancy-associated osteoporosis should be suspected when thoracic or lumbar spine pain occur during pregnancy or in the post-partum period as it can lead to vertebral or peripheral fractures.

Adult↗

Influence of flail chest on outcome among patients with severe thoracic cage trauma.

Flail chest is associated with a higher morbidity compared with multiple rib fractures, and it requires early intubation. This was a prospective comparative uncontrolled study at an academic level 1 trauma center. Twenty-two patients with flail chest (FLAIL) were compared with 90 patients with more than two rib fractures but no flail chest (RIBS) to determine differences in outcomes such as mortality, significant respiratory complications (pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome), need for mechanical ventilation, and length of hospital stay. Stepwise logistic regression identified independent risk factors of poor outcome. Despite similar age and rates of lung contusion and extrathoracic injury, FLAIL patients had a higher need for mechanical ventilation (86% versus 42%, P < 0.01), higher incidence of significant respiratory complications (64% versus 26%, P < 0.01), and longer hospital stay (28 +/- 21 versus 17 +/- 19 days, P = 0.04) compared with RIBS patients. Flail chest and extrathoracic injuries were independent risk factors of significant respiratory complications. Of 11 FLAIL patients who were not intubated on arrival, eight required intubation within the next 24 hours, often while receiving diagnostic studies in poorly monitored hospital areas; two of these patients suffered morbidity directly related to the delay in intubation. Three patients without associated injuries were managed successfully without intubation. Flail chest is an independent marker of poor outcome among patients with thoracic cage trauma. The majority of patients with flail chest need mechanical ventilatory support and develop significant respiratory complications. In the presence of associated injuries, intubation is unavoidable and should be done under controlled conditions early after arrival to avoid morbidity related to sudden respiratory decompensation.

Adult↗

Evaluation of easily measured risk factors in the prediction of osteoporotic fractures.

BACKGROUND: Fracture represents the single most important clinical event in patients with osteoporosis, yet remains under-predicted. As few premonitory symptoms for fracture exist, it is of critical importance that physicians effectively and efficiently identify individuals at increased fracture risk. METHODS: Of 3426 postmenopausal women in CANDOO, 40, 158, 99, and 64 women developed a new hip, vertebral, wrist or rib fracture, respectively. Seven easily measured risk factors predictive of fracture in research trials were examined in clinical practice including: age (< 65, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+ years), rising from a chair with arms (yes, no), weight (< 57, > or = 57 kg), maternal history of hip fracture (yes, no), prior fracture after age 50 (yes, no), hip T-score (> -1, -1 to > -2.5, < or = -2.5), and current smoking status (yes, no). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The inability to rise from a chair without the use of arms (3.58; 95% CI: 1.17, 10.93) was the most significant risk factor for new hip fracture. Notable risk factors for predicting new vertebral fractures were: low body weight (1.57; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.37), current smoking (1.95; 95% CI: 1.20, 3.18) and age between 75-79 years (1.96; 95% CI: 1.10, 3.51). New wrist fractures were significantly identified by low body weight (1.71, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.90) and prior fracture after 50 years (1.96; 95% CI: 1.19, 3.22). Predictors of new rib fractures include a maternal history of a hip fracture (2.89; 95% CI: 1.04, 8.08) and a prior fracture after 50 years (2.16; 95% CI: 1.20, 3.87). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that there exists a variety of predictors of future fracture, besides BMD, that can be easily assessed by a physician. The significance of each variable depends on the site of incident fracture. Of greatest interest is that an inability to rise from a chair is perhaps the most readily identifiable significant risk factor for hip fracture and can be easily incorporated into routine clinical practice.

Aged↗

Increased frequency of thorax injuries with ACD-CPR.

A prospective, randomised out-of-hospital study in a two-tiered system with active compression-decompression (ACD) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) versus standard (STD) CPR in patients following non-traumatic cardiac arrest was planned to test the hypothesis that ACD-CPR by the first tier may increase the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation as compared with STD-CPR. Furthermore, in a later phase of the study, sternal and rib fractures induced by both CPR methods were determined by extensive autopsy. After enrolling 90 patients the study was terminated because of a high frequency of chest injuries found at autopsy. Forty-two patients received STD-CPR from the first tier and ACD-CPR from the second tier. Thirty-three patients received ACD-CPR only by the first and the second tier, while 15 patients received STD-CPR only from the first and second tiers. In order to obtain a sufficiently large control group for autopsy findings after STD-CPR, STD-CPR was performed in an additional 33 patients within a second period of 4 months. There was no improvement in the number of patients found in ventricular fibrillation after ACD-CPR as compared to STD-CPR performed by the first tier. In patients undergoing autopsy (n = 35) there were significantly more sternal fractures with ACD-CPR versus STD-CPR (14/15 vs. 6/20; P <0.005) and rib fractures (13/15 vs. 11/20; P < 0.05) In conclusion, ACD-CPR appears to cause more CPR-related injuries than does standard CPR, but as a result of a number of limitations on this study, this fact cannot be proven beyond doubt.

Aged↗

Indication for thoracotomy and chest wall stabilization.

In multiply injured patients with major blunt thoracic injuries, the continued high mortality is mainly caused by the additive effect of the unstable flail chest associated with pleural and lung injuries upon the pulmonary gas exchange disturbance caused by haemorrhagic shock. A more active approach with early thoracotomy and chest wall stabilization is recommended. Three groups of injuries provide the appropriate indication: 1. Penetrating injuries, ruptures of organs and great vessels, when associated with serial rib fractures, which should be stabilized 'on retreat'. 2. Anterior or lateral wall instability due to double serial rib fractures with concomitant pleural and lung injuries. 3. Flail chest injuries with severe respiratory insufficiency. In all cases the thoracotomy should be performed after resuscitation of the patient on the day of the accident or within 3 days. Screwless elastic self-clasping rib plates were used in 15 multiply injured patients and in 5 isolated thoracic cases with good results and a low complication rate. The mortality was reduced from 64 per cent to 36 per cent in the patients with multiple injuries.

Adult↗

[Analyses of epidemiology in 363 cases of clavicle fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological features of clavicle fractures. METHODS: A total of 363 cases of clavicle fractures were treated from February 1993 to November 2002, their case history data were reviewed and evaluated by epidemiological method. RESULTS: Out of 363 cases, there were 269 males and 94 females, aged from new born to 96 years. The locations of fractures were on left side in 159 cases and on right side in 204 cases. Neonatal clavicle fracture occurred in the case of delivery (0.28%). The causes of disease for adult clavicle fractures were traffic injury (52.1%) and daily falling injury (31.1%). There were 232 cases of simple fractures and 131 cases of comminuted fractures. The fracture positions included inner (6 cases), middle (328 cases) and outer parts (29 cases). Multi-injuries occurred in 78 cases, the rib fractures concomitant with clavicle fractures were the commonest (31 cases). CONCLUSION: The clavicle fractures are the common injury. Of them, traffic injury and daily falling injury are the most common. The rib fractures are always accompanied with clavicle fractures. The main position of fracture is on the middle part.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Aortic injury in vehicular trauma.

A 5-year retrospective study of 530 motor vehicle fatalities revealed 105 aortic injuries occurring in 90 victims. These were reviewed to determine the injury patterns, circumstances, and mechanisms involved. In addition, the survival time, the driver's age and sex, the time of day of the accident, and the blood alcohol level were considered. The aortic injuries consisted of 61 transections and 44 tears (13% were multiple). Sixty-five percent of the injuries were located in the proximal descending aorta (66% of these were transections), 14% were in the ascending aorta and arch (33% of these were transections), 12% were in the distal descending aorta (more than 1 cm distal to the subclavian artery) (46% of these were transections), and 9% were in the abdominal aorta (56% of these were transections). Associated injuries consisted of multiple rib fractures (78%), liver lacerations (61%), head injuries (42%), first rib fractures (42%), splenic lacerations (36%), heart lacerations (34%), sternal fractures (28%), cervical spine fractures (26%), and thoracic spine fractures (20%). Death occurred within 1 hour in 94% and within 24 hours in 99%. The impact was head-on in 62% of the accidents. The victim was the driver 74% of the time and male in 77% of the cases, and the blood alcohol level exceeded 0.1 mg/dL in 43%. Most aortic disruptions were complete transections of the proximal descending aorta, associated with serious injury to the thorax, and occurred in head-on collisions. Findings support a compression and upward thrust of the heart as a mechanism responsible for the aortic disruption.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Bronchial rupture caused by blunt chest injury.

We have surgically treated six patients with bronchial rupture caused by blunt chest injury in the past 5 years. All injuries resulted from traffic accidents, except in one patient who was hit by a crane. Clinical manifestations included chest pain (n = 6), subcutaneous emphysema (n = 4), and dyspnea (n = 6). Roentgenographic findings were tension (n = 3) or nontension (n = 3) pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema (n = 4), pneumomediastinum (n = 3), deep cervical emphysema (n = 5), and delayed collapse of the affected lung (n = 3). Three patients had associated injuries: right clavicle and rib fractures in the first; right humeral, scapular, and multiple rib fractures and left sternoclavicular joint dislocation in the second; and left clavicle fracture in the third. These six patients all underwent immediate tube thoracostomy and then bronchoplasty. Bronchoplasty was performed within 3 days in four patients and on days 16 and 30, respectively, in the other two patients. The affected lung demonstrated full expansion in all patients immediately after bronchoplasty. Follow-up bronchoscopy showed good patency of all bronchi.

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