Objective To study the indications, methods, and therapeutic effect of absorbable rib-connecting-pins fixation in the treatment of multi ple rib fractures. Methods Between March 2007 and September 2009, 40 patients with multiple rib fractures received internal fixation with absorbable rib-connecting-pins, including 8 one-side flail chest and 1 twoside flail chest. There were 32 males and 8 females with an average age of 39.8 years (range, 25-72 years). The injury was caused by traffic accident in 32 cases, fall ing from height in 6 cases, and blunt hitting in 2 cases. Preoperatively, imaging data of the chest X-ray or spiral CT three-dimensional (3D) examination showed that all patients had multiple ribs fractures and displacement. The number of fractured ribs was 4-10 (median, 6), and the fracture location ranged from the 2nd to the10th ribs. Of them, 28 cases were accompanied by hemathorax, pneumathorax or hemopneumothorax; 5 cases by thoracic organ injury; and 10 cases by
other part trauma. The time from injury to hospital ization was less than 1 day in 26 cases, 1-3 days in 12 cases, and 3-6 days in 2 cases, and the time from hospital ization to operation was 3 hours to 3 days (mean, 1.2 days). Results The median fixation rib number was 5 (range, 3-8). The mean operative time, the time in bed, and hospital ization days were 32 minutes (range, 15-50 minutes), 4.5 days (range, 2-7 days), and 11.2 days (range, 5-18 days), respectively. All incisions healed by first intention. No pulmonary infection, pulmonary atelectasis, intrathoracic infection or other compl ications occurred. All cases were followedup 6-12 months (mean, 8 months). PaO2 [(86.6 ± 2.2) mmHg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)] and SpO2 (97.2% ± 0.6%) at 2 hours after operation were obviously improved when compared with preoperative ones [PaO2 (53.6 ± 4.7) mm Hg and SpO2 (86.2% ± 1.8%)], showing significant differences (t=2.971, P=0.005; t=2.426, P=0.020). The chest X-ray films or spiral CT 3D indicated that fracture of rib healed within 3-6 months (mean, 4.5 months) after operation. Conclusion Severe collapsed chest wall or
flail chest caused by fracture of multiple ribs should be treated by absorbable rib-connecting-pins, which is a simple, firm, and effective method.

Citation： LIU Jinliang,LI Keyao,HE Jianning. INTERNAL FIXATION TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE RIB FRACTURES WITH ABSORBABLE RIB-CONNECTINGPINS/. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2011, 25(1): 100-103. doi: Copy

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