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Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Comparison of minimally invasive surgery for non-flail chest rib fractures: a prospective cohort study
1Department of Thoracic surgery, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Background:
To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of minimally invasive and small incision surgery [minimally invasive surgery (MIS)] in patients with non-flail chest rib fractures through a prospective cohort study.
Methods:
This study included 98 patients with non-flail chest rib fractures (≥3 displaced fractures) and 66 patients undergoing MIS served as the experimental group and 32 patients receiving conservative treatment served as the matched control group. Pain index and indicators of pulmonary function [vital capacity (VC); forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1); peak expiratory flow (PEF)] for the two groups were assessed and compared at the time of admission and before discharge. In addition, duration of pain, time required for the patient to regain the ability to perform daily self-care, mental labor, and moderate-to-severe physical labor, and duration of chest discomfort were measured during long-term follow-up and compared between the two groups.
Results:
There were also no significant differences (P>0.05) in pain index (8 vs. 8) or indicators of pulmonary function (VC: 31.0% vs. 26.5%; FEV1: 29.9% vs. 26.7%; PEF: 15.2% vs. 12.0%) were found between the MIS and conservative treatment groups at the time of admission; while pain index (3 vs. 6), VC (42.1% vs. 35.3%), and FEV1 (44.2% vs. 35.9%) were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05) but not in PEF (21.2% vs. 19.6%) before discharge. Long-term follow-up showed that duration of pain, time required for the patient to regain the ability to engage in daily self-care, mental labor, and moderate-to-severe physical labor, and duration of chest discomfort in the MIS group were significantly more improved than in the conservative treatment group (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
MIS was a simple and safe treatment that significantly relieved chest pain and rapidly restored pulmonary function and improved the long-term quality of life of patients with non-flail chest rib fractures of ≥3 ribs with displacement.
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Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:
Flail Chest-I
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...