Surgical stabilization of serial rib fractures is advantageous in patients with relevant traumatic brain injury

To evaluate the clinical benefit of surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) in polytrauma patients with serial rib fractures.

Retrospective single-center cohort analysis in trauma patients. Serial rib fracture was defined as three consecutive ribs confirmed by chest computer tomography (CT). Study cohort includes 243 patients that were treated conservatively and 34 patients that underwent SSRF. Demographic patient data, trauma mechanism, injury pattern, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and hospital course were analyzed. Two matched pair analyses stratified for ISS (32 pairs) and GCS (25 pairs) were performed.

The majority of patients was male (74%) and aged 55 ± 20 years. Serial rib fractures were associated with more than 6 broken ribs in average (6.3 ± 3.7). Other thoracic bone injury included sternum (18%), scapula (16%) and clavicula (13%). Visceral injury consisted of pneumothorax (51%), lung contusion (33%) and diaphragmatic rupture (2%). Average ISS was 22 ± 7.3. Overall hospital stay was 15.9 and ICU stay 7.4 days. In hospital, mortality was 13%. SSRF did not improve hospital course or postoperative complications in the complete study cohort. However, patients with a significantly reduced GCS (7.6 ± 5.3 vs 11.22 ± 4.8; p = 0.006) benefitted from SSRF. Matched pair analysis stratified for GCS showed shorter ICU stays (9 vs 15 days; p = 0.005) including shorter respirator time (143 vs 305 h; p = 0.003).

Patients with serial rib fractures and simultaneous moderate or severe traumatic brain injury benefit from surgical stabilization of rib fractures.