Treatment of traumatic rib fractures: an overview of current evidence and future perspectives.

Operative management of rib fractures has gained significant popularity over the last years, however, it remains a controversial topic, due to the substantial heterogeneity among rib fracture patients with considerable differences in epidemiology. Hence, the present narrative review aims to provide an overview of the treatment and (long-term) outcomes of rib fractures, with an emphasis on the surgical treatment. Nowadays, computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be most practical and sensitive for detecting rib fractures, of which up to 50% is missed on other imaging modalities. Non-operative treatment by patient-tailored multimodal pain management remains the cornerstone. Still, in the presence of-amidst others-chest wall instability or displaced fractures with physiologic derangements, operative treatment is indicated and should be performed within 72 hours after injury. Here, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and pulmonary contusion are no strict contra-indications, while plate osteosynthesis is considered the standard mode for surgical stabilization. To date, surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) only benefits selected groups of patients, awaiting results of ongoing studies. Future directions may include the sole use of percutaneous cryoablation of the intercostal nerves as part of conservative management, as well as the application of three-dimensional (3D) printing and use of bio-absorbable materials in the surgical treatment of rib fractures.

VATS-assisted surgical stabilization of rib fractures in flail chest: 1-year follow-up of 105 cases.

OBJECTIVES: Early surgical stabilization of flail chest has been shown to improve chest wall stability and diminish respiratory complications. The addition of video­assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) can diagnose and manage intrathoracic injuries and evacuate hemothorax. This study analyzed the outcome of our 7-year experience with VATS-assisted surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) for flail chest. METHODS: From January 2013 to December 2019, all trauma patients undergoing VATS-assisted SSRF for flail chest were included. Patient characteristics and complications during 1-year follow-up were reported. RESULTS: VATS­assisted SSRF for flail chest was performed in 105 patients. Median age was 65 years (range 21-92). Median injury severity score was 16 (range 9-49). Hemothorax was evacuated with VATS in 80 patients (median volume 200 ml, range 25-2500). In 3 patients entrapped lung was freed from the fracture site and in 2 patients a diaphragm rupture was repaired. Median postoperative ICU admission was 2 days (range 1-41). Thirty-two patients (30%) had a post­operative complication during admission and six patients (6%) a complication within 1 year. In-hospital mortality rate was 1%. Six patients (6%) died after discharge, due to causes unrelated to the original injury. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of VATS to SSRF for flail chest seems helpful to diagnose and manage intrathoracic injuries and adequately evacuate hemothorax. The majority of complications are low grade and occur during admission. Further prospective research needs to be conducted to identify potential risk factors for complications and better selection for addition of VATS to improve care in the future.

Surgical treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation associated with midshaft fracture of the ipsilateral clavicle.

Acromioclavicular dislocation combined with a midshaft clavicle fracture is a rare traumatic shoulder problem. Various treatment options have been described in literature. We describe a new technique using a hook plate and coracoclavicular sling to replace the ruptured coracoclavicular ligaments in combination with plate osteosynthesis of the clavicle fracture. Furthermore, we provide a short overview of the few cases described in literature and their treatment options.