Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Flail Chest-II

Flail Chest-II

Managing flail chest, a condition characterized by a segment of the chest wall moving independently from the rest of the thoracic cage, requires a comprehensive approach. It includes a thorough assessment of the patient's condition, a diagnostic evaluation to determine the extent of the injury, and the implementation of appropriate medical interventions tailored to the individual's needs.
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:

Flail Chest-I

Flail Chest-I

Overview of Flail Chest
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...

The Thoracic Cage: Sternum

The Thoracic Cage: Sternum

The thoracic or rib cage forms the body's thorax (chest) portion. Its primary function in the body is to protect vital organs in the thoracic cavity, such as the heart and the lungs. It consists of 12 pairs of ribs with their costal cartilages and the sternum. The ribs are anchored posteriorly to the 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12).
The sternum is the elongated bony structure on the anterior side of the thoracic cage. It consists of three parts: the manubrium, the body, and the xiphoid...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Penetrating firearm tracheal injury with cardiac arrest due to tension pneumopericardium.

Trauma (London, England)·2026

Same author

Three Types of Collateral Arterial Supply to the Spleen After Spleen-Preserving Distal Pancreatectomies with Splenic Vessels Resection-How to Use This Knowledge for Organ(s) Preservation in Locally Advanced and Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Head Cancers Surgery-Hemodynamic, Surgical and Oncological Outcomes of 134 Spleen-Preserving Pancreatectomies.

Cancers·2026

Same author

Superiority of single-photon emission computed tomography for predicting postoperative lung function after anatomical lung resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal of thoracic disease·2026

Same author

Feasibility of Intraoperative Tissue Oxygen Saturation Imaging Using OXEI Technology During Robotic Esophagectomy: A Case Series.

Innovations (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2026

Same author

Robotic Omental Flap Harvest for Complex Thoracic Defects: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Do Disparities Exist in the Timing of Traumatic Nasal Repair?

JPRAS open·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Surgical Fixation of Sternal Fractures: Preoperative Planning and a Safe Surgical Technique Using Locked Titanium Plates and Depth Limited Drilling

Surgical Fixation of Sternal Fractures: Preoperative Planning and a Safe Surgical Technique Using Locked Titanium Plates and Depth Limited Drilling

Published on: January 5, 2015

Vertical Plate for Flail Chest Repair.

Marcel Tafen¹, Alexa Giammarino¹, Ceyda Bertram¹

¹Department of Surgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York.

The Journal of Cardiothoracic Trauma

|April 23, 2020

Summary

This study presents a novel vertical plate osteosynthesis technique for severe flail chest cases with large rib defects. This approach offers a solution for challenging rib fracture repair, especially with osteoporosis.

Keywords:

Flail chest rib plating thoracoplasty vertical plate vertical rib osteosynthesis

More Related Videos

Prone Lateral Minimally Invasive Retropleural Corpectomy Using a Rotatable Radiolucent Jackson Table

Prone Lateral Minimally Invasive Retropleural Corpectomy Using a Rotatable Radiolucent Jackson Table

Published on: July 3, 2025

Normothermic Negative Pressure Ventilation Ex Situ Lung Perfusion: Evaluation of Lung Function and Metabolism

Normothermic Negative Pressure Ventilation Ex Situ Lung Perfusion: Evaluation of Lung Function and Metabolism

Published on: February 14, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Surgical Fixation of Sternal Fractures: Preoperative Planning and a Safe Surgical Technique Using Locked Titanium Plates and Depth Limited Drilling

Surgical Fixation of Sternal Fractures: Preoperative Planning and a Safe Surgical Technique Using Locked Titanium Plates and Depth Limited Drilling

Published on: January 5, 2015

Prone Lateral Minimally Invasive Retropleural Corpectomy Using a Rotatable Radiolucent Jackson Table

Prone Lateral Minimally Invasive Retropleural Corpectomy Using a Rotatable Radiolucent Jackson Table

Published on: July 3, 2025

Normothermic Negative Pressure Ventilation Ex Situ Lung Perfusion: Evaluation of Lung Function and Metabolism

Normothermic Negative Pressure Ventilation Ex Situ Lung Perfusion: Evaluation of Lung Function and Metabolism

Published on: February 14, 2022

Area of Science:

Thoracic Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Trauma Surgery

Background:

Operative treatment of flail chest and respiratory failure is standard.
In-line rib osteosynthesis with plates is the established method for chest rigidity and stability.
Bridging large skeletal defects with missing ribs is challenging, especially with poor bone stock.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe an unusual application of vertical plate rib osteosynthesis.
To address challenging rib fracture repair in a patient with traumatic flail chest, prior thoracoplasty, and severe osteoporosis.

Main Methods:

Vertical plate rib osteosynthesis was employed.
The technique was used to bridge a large skeletal defect in a complex trauma case.

Main Results:

The vertical plate technique was successfully utilized in a patient with severe osteoporosis and a history of thoracoplasty.
This method provided a viable solution for bridging extensive rib defects where standard osteosynthesis was not feasible.

Conclusions:

Vertical plate rib osteosynthesis is a feasible alternative for complex rib fracture repair.
This technique can be effective in cases with large skeletal defects, prior surgeries, and severe osteoporosis, improving chest wall stability.