[Surgical treatment of flail chest by sliding staples]

The authors have compared the results obtained in two series of patients with flail chests treated by internal fixation. In the first series of 36 patients, Judet rib staples were used. The average time of artificial ventilation was 5.8 days. In the second series of 43 patients, gliding staples were used. The average time of artificial ventilation was only 2.6 days, a significant reduction. Thanks to this new technique, the indications for artificial ventilation in the treatment of flail chests have been reduced from 47 per cent to 33 per cent. The technique of fixation has also been used in seven cases of operative treatment of funnel chests. In five other cases it has been used to reinforce plastic mesh inserted after extensive resection for malignant tumour.