A study on the optimal timing for Rib fracture surgery: A report from a single center is earlier surgery always...

Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) is increasingly employed in the management of rib fractures. Current guidelines recommend performing SSRF within 48 to 72 h post-injury. This study aimed to validate this recommendation using data from a single center in China.

We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis to investigate the effects of different surgical timings on the length of hospital stay, ICU stay, incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection, postoperative respiratory failure, pain scores at 1 week after surgery, and pain and quality of life scores at 1 and 6 months post-discharge in patients with rib fractures.

A total of 3899 patients were analyzed. The early surgery group (≤ 72 h) had significantly shorter hospital and ICU stays compared to the delayed surgery group (> 72 h) (P ≤ 0.001). There were no significant differences in postoperative pulmonary infection, respiratory failure, or pain scores at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months post-discharge between the two groups. However, quality of life scores at 1 and 6 months post-surgery were significantly higher in the early surgery group (P < 0.001). Additionally, within the early surgery group, those who underwent surgery within 48 h of injury had a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.003).

SSRF performed early after injury can significantly shorten hospital and ICU stays and improve patients' quality of life for six months. SSRF performed within 48 h post-injury is recommended to achieve better outcomes.