Surgical Stabilization of Flail Chest after Blunt Trauma

Abstract

Traumatic flail chest is segment of the chest wall, which is caused by multiple fractures or by separation of bone structure (at least three sequential broken ribs or separated into two fracture lines). These injuries are mainly seen in polytrauma patients. Chest trauma is the third most common injury in trauma patients (8). Early surgical intervention, as definedas being within 24-72 hours after the trauma, should be performed, assuming other potentially life-threatening injuries have been treated (9-10). Aim of the Study: Our aim is to show the therapeutic benefits of surgical treatment (operative stabilization) of the flail chest. Material and Methods: We retrospective analyzed patients who underwent surgery at the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery, University Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, in the period from 01.12.1997. - 31.10.2020. Results: 68 patients with average age of 53.57 years with traumatic flail chest were surgicaly treated in the twenty-three year period at the Clinic of Thoracic Surgery, University Clinical Centre of the Republic of the Srpska, Banja Luka. The average length of a hospital stay was 15 days. Survival rate in the operated group was 91.43%. Conclusion: If conservative measures such as internal stabilization, the use of analgesics, antibiotics, oxygen therapy and airway toilet does not lead to stabilization of respiratory function, surgical chest wall stabilization is necessary.