Abstract :
Objective: To study the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing surgical fixation of flail chest due to blunt chest trauma.
Methods: It was a retrospective study. Six patients with flail chest requiring extended ventilator support underwent surgical fixation using the mini plating system. Their post-operative outcomes like duration of ventilation, duration of ICU and hospital stay, post-operative pain score and physical well-being in follow up were evaluated.
Results: The stiffness of these plates matches that of the ribs. Low stiffness and ductility of these plates effectively prevents screw loosening and pull-out and provides stable and durable fixation of flail chest. All the six patients in the study were successfully weaned off the ventilator and were able to maintain adequate room air saturations, reduced pain score and had good one year follow-up.
Conclusions: Compared to conservative management surgical stabilization of flail chest is associated with reduced length of hospital and ICU stay, reduced exposure to mechanical ventilation and its complications. Mini plating system is an effective implant system for flail chest stabilization.
Keyword :
Flail Chest; Fracture Fixation; Internal; Rib Fractures