Blunt chest wall trauma: Rib fractures and associated injuries.

ABSTRACT: Blunt injuries to the chest wall, specifically those related to rib fractures, need to be promptly identified and effectively managed to reduce patient morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, judicious use of multimodal pain management and early identification of patients who will benefit from the surgical stabilization of rib fractures are paramount to optimal outcomes.

Major Risk Factors for Mortality in Elderly and Non-Elderly Adult Patients Emergently Admitted for Blunt Chest Wall Trauma: Hospital Length of Stay as an Independent Predictor.

Background: Blunt thoracic trauma is responsible for 35% of trauma-related deaths in the United States and significantly contributes to morbidity and healthcare-related financial strain. The goal of this study was to evaluate factors influencing mortality in patients emergently admitted with the primary diagnosis of blunt chest wall trauma. Methods: Adults emergently admitted for blunt chest trauma were assessed using the National Inpatient Sample Database, 2004-2014. Data regarding demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected. Relationships were determined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: In total, 1120 adult and 1038 elderly patients emergently admitted with blunt chest trauma were assessed; 46.3% were female, and 53.6% were male. The average ages of adult and elderly patients were 46.6 and 78.9 years, respectively. Elderly and adult patients both displayed mortality rates of 1%. The regression model showed HLOS and several comorbidities as the main risk factors of mortality Every additional day of hospitalization increased the odds of mortality by 9% (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.18, p = 0.033). Mortality and liver disease were significantly associated (OR = 8.36, 95% CI = 2.23-31.37, p = 0.002). Respiratory disease and mortality rates demonstrated robust correlations (OR = 7.46, 95% CI = 1.63-34.11, p = 0.010). Trauma, burns, and poisons were associated with increased mortality (OR = 3.72, 95% CI = 1.18-11.71, p = 0.025). The presence of platelet/white blood cell disease correlated to higher mortality. (OR = 4.42, 95% CI = 1.09-17.91, p = 0.038).

Pectus excavatum en adolescentes: cuidados de Enfermería en el postoperatorio / Pectus excavatum in adolescents: nursing care during the postoperative period

El pectus excavatum es una deformidad congénita de la pared torácica caracterizada por el hundimiento del esternón. Esta alteración, aparte de ser una cuestión estética, conlleva un impacto psicosocial en el individuo. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 16 años sometido a intervención quirúrgica de pectus excavatum. Se realizó una valoración según las 14 Necesidades de Virginia Henderson y se definió un plan de cuidados individualizado empleando la taxonomía diagnóstica de la North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), describiendo los resultados esperados según la Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) y enunciado las intervenciones necesarias según la Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC). Se identificaron seis diagnósticos enfermeros NANDA: “[00118] Trastorno de la imagen corporal”, “[00120] Baja autoestima situacional”, “[00053] Aislamiento social”, “[00121] Trastorno de la identidad personal”, “[00132] Dolor agudo”, “[00046] Deterioro de la integridad tisular”. Se identificaron 11 resultados esperados NOC y ocho intervenciones NIC con sus correspondientes actividades enfermeras. La evaluación del plan de cuidados mostró que se alcanzaron las puntuaciones diana de los indicadores de los NOC a excepción de los indicadores “[150303] Interacción con miembros de la familia” y “[150307] Participación en organización de actividades” que se mantuvieron. Además, en algunos como ”[120507] Comunicación abierta” y “[120014] Adaptación a cambios corporales por cirugía” se superó la puntuación diana. En conclusión, el paciente mostró un mayor grado de aceptación de su imagen corporal, y recuperó progresivamente el estado de ánimo y la relación con sus iguales.(AU)

Pectus excavatum is a congenital deformity of the thoracic wall characterized by a caved-in sternum. This alteration, besides being an aesthetic issue, entails a psychosocial impact on the individual. We present the case of a 16-year-old male patient undergoing surgery for pectus excavatum. An assessment was conducted according to Virginia Henderson’s 14 Needs, and an individualized plan of care was defined, using the diagnostic taxonomy by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), describing the expected outcomes according to the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), and stating the interventions required according to the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC). Six NANDA nursing diagnoses were identified: “[00118] Body Image Disorder”, “[00120] Situational Low Self-Esteem”, “[00053] Social Isolation”, “[00121] Disturbed Personal Identity”, “[00132] Acute Pain”, “[00046] Impaitment of Skin Integrity”. Eleven (11) expected NOC outcomes were identified, as well as eigh NIC interventions with their relevant nursing activities. The assessment of the plan of care showed that the target scores for the NOC indicatiors were reached, except for “[150303] Interacts with Family Members” and “[150307] Participates in Organized Activities”, which were sustained. Besides, the target score was exceeded in some indicators such as ”[120507] Open Communication” and “[120014] Adjustment to Body Changes due to Surgery”. In conclusion, patients showed a higher level of acceptance of their body image, and recovered gradually their mood and relationship with peers.(AU)

Improving Blunt Chest Wall Injury Outcomes: Introducing the PIC Score.

BACKGROUND: To improve care for nonintubated blunt chest wall injury patients, our Level I trauma center developed a treatment protocol and a pulmonary evaluation tool named "PIC Protocol" and "PIC Score," emphasizing continual assessment of pain, incentive spirometry, and cough ability. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to reduce unplanned intensive care unit admissions for blunt chest wall injury patients using the PIC Protocol and the PIC Score. Additional outcomes included intensive care unit length of stay, ventilator days, length of hospital stay, inhospital mortality, and discharge destination. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study comparing outcomes of rib fracture patients treated at our facility 2 years prior to (control group) and 2 years following PIC Protocol use (PIC group). The protocol included admission screening, a power plan order set, the PIC Score patient assessment tool, in-room communication board, and patient education brochure. Outcomes were compared using independent-samples t tests for continuous variables and Pearson's χ2 for categorical variables with α set to p < .05. RESULTS: There were 1,036 patients in the study (control = 501; PIC = 535). Demographics and injury severity were similar between groups. Unanticipated escalations of care for acute pulmonary distress were reduced from 3% (15/501) in the control group to 0.37% (2/535) in the PIC group and were predicted by a preceding fall in the PIC Score of 3 points over the previous 8-hr shift, marking pulmonary decline by an acutely falling PIC Score. CONCLUSIONS: The PIC Protocol and the PIC Score are easy-to-use, cost-effective tools for guiding care of blunt chest wall injury patients.

Traumatic thoracic rib cage and chest wall hernias: A review and discussion of management principles.

Traumatic thoracic or chest wall hernias are relatively uncommon but highly challenging injuries that can be seen after a variety of injury mechanisms. Despite their description throughout history there remains scant literature on this topic that is primarily limited to case reports or series. Until recently, there also has been no effort to create a reliable grading system that can assess severity, predict outcomes, and guide the choice of surgical repair. The purpose of this article is to review the reported literature on this topic and to analyze the history, common injury mechanisms, likely presentations, and optimal management strategies to guide clinicians who are faced with these challenging cases. We also report a modified and updated version of our previously developed grading system for traumatic chest wall hernias that can be utilized to guide surgical management techniques and approaches.

Yoga in Burn: Role of pranayama breathing exercise on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle activity and exercise tolerance in full-thickness circumferential burns of the chest.

BACKGROUND: Circumferential burn of chest (CBC) is a significant type of burn and considers as a major cause of restrictive lung disease (RLD). Patient who has CBC with RLD leads to respiratory symptoms such as breathing difficulty, airway obstruction, reduced exercise capacity and altered pulmonary functions. However, studies examining the role of pranayama breathing exercise on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle activity and exercise tolerance in full thickness circumferential burn of chest are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To find the short term effects of pranayama breathing exercise on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle activity and exercise tolerance in full thickness circumferential burns of chest. METHODS: Through simple random sampling method thirty subjects (N = 30) with RLD following CBC were allocated to pranayama breathing exercise group (PBE-G; n = 15) and conventional breathing exercise group (CBE-G; n = 15). They received pranayama breathing exercise and conventional breathing exercise for 4 weeks respectively. All the subjects received chest mobility exercise as common treatment. Primary (Numeric Pain Rating Scale - NPRS, forced expiratory volume (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and secondary (Electromyogram of sternocleidomastoid, scalene, external intercostal and diaphragm muscle, 6 min walk test & Global Rating of Change - GRC) outcome measures were measured at baseline, after four weeks and after three months follow up. RESULTS: Baseline demographic and clinical variables show homogenous distribution between the groups (p > 0.05). Four weeks following different breathing exercises, PBE-G group shows more significant changes in pain intensity, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle activity, exercise tolerance and global rating of change than CBE-G group (p ≤ 0.05) at four weeks and three months follow up. CONCLUSION: Both groups showed improvement over time. However, differences between the groups were noticed small. Still physiotherapy management, which included pranayama breathing exercises with chest mobilization program, had an effective strategy in the treatment of restrictive lung disease following circumferential burn of chest.

EarLy Exercise in blunt Chest wall Trauma: a feasibility trial (ELECT Trial).

BACKGROUND: The aim was to complete a feasibility study that would test the methods of the main trial, that will investigate whether early thoracic and shoulder girdle exercises reduce chronic pain in patients with blunt chest wall trauma, when compared with normal care. METHODS: A single centre, parallel, feasibility randomised controlled trial was completed at a University Teaching Hospital in Wales between June and September 2019. Adult patients with blunt chest wall trauma, admitted to hospital for greater than 24 hours, with no concurrent, immediately life-threatening injuries, were included. The intervention was a simple physiotherapy programme comprising thoracic and shoulder girdle exercises. Feasibility outcome measures included: primary outcomes: (1) 80% or more of identified eligible patients were approached for potential recruitment to the trial (2) 30% or less of approached, eligible patients dissented to participate in the trial; secondary outcomes: (3) follow-up data for patient secondary outcomes can be collected for 80% or more of patients, (4) there should be no greater than 10% increase in serious adverse events in the intervention group compared with the control group. RESULTS: A total of 19/19 (100%) patients were deemed eligible for the trial and were approached for participation, 5/19 (26%) eligible patients declined to participate in the trial, follow-up data were collected for n=10/14 (71%) patients and there were no serious adverse events reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that a fully powered randomised clinical trial of the EarLy Exercise in blunt Chest wall Trauma Trial is feasible. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN16197429.

Rib Season: Temporal Variation in Chest Wall Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma to the chest wall is one of the most common injuries suffered. Knowing whether there are regular and reproducible changes in frequency or severity of certain injury types may help resource allocation and improve prevention efforts or outcomes; however, no prior studies have evaluated seasonal variation in chest wall injuries (CWIs). We aimed to determine if CWIs vary annually in a consistent distinct temporal variation. METHODS: Using an established traumatic blunt CWI database at a single urban level 1 trauma center, patients with a moderate-to-severe (chest wall Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) ≥2) CWI were reviewed. A subpopulation of predominant chest wall injury (pCWI) was defined as those with a chest wall AIS ≥3 and no other anatomic region having a higher AIS. Demographics, injury patterns, mechanisms of injury, and AIS were collected in addition to date of injury over a 4-y period. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as Poisson time-series regression for periodicity. Seasonal comparison of populations was performed using Student's t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with significance assessed at a level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Over a 4-y period nearly 16,000 patients presented with injury, of which 3042 patients were found to have a blunt CWI. Total CWI patients per year from 2014 to 2017 ranged from 571 to 947. Over this period, August had the highest incidence for patients with any CWI, moderate-to-severe injuries, and pCWI. February had the lowest overall injury incidence as well as lowest moderate-to-severe injury incidence. January had the lowest pCWI incidence. Yearly changes followed a quadratic sinusoid model that predicted a peak between incidence, between June and October, and the low season. A low season was found to be December-April. Comparing low to high seasons of injured patient monthly means revealed significant differences: total injuries (69.94 versus 85.56, P = 0.04), moderate to severe (62.25 versus 78.19, P = 0.06), and pCWI (25.25 versus 34.44, P = 0.01). Analysis of injuries by mechanism revealed a concomitant increase in motorcycle collisions during this period. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a significant seasonal variation in the overall incidence of CWI as well as severe pCWI, with a high-volume injury season in summer months (June-October) and low-volume season in winter (December-April). Motorcycle accidents were the major blunt injury mechanism that changed with this seasonality. These findings may help guide resource utilization and injury prevention.

Nonintubated minimally invasive chest wall stabilization for multiple rib fractures: a prospective, single-arm study.

BACKGROUND: Nonintubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been widely reported in the past decade, while nonintubated chest wall stabilization has not been reported previously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of nonintubated minimally invasive chest wall stabilization in patients with multiple rib fractures. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-arm, observational study. In this prospective study, 20 consecutive patients with multiple rib fractures were treated using nonintubated minimally invasive chest wall stabilization. RESULTS: Minimally invasive chest wall stabilization was mostly performed for lateral rib fractures in this study (n = 8). The mean operation time was 92.5 min, and the mean blood loss was 49 ml. No patient required conversion to tracheal intubation. The mean extubation time of the laryngeal mask was 8.9 min; the mean postoperative fasting time was 6.1 h; the mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.2 days; the mean amount of postoperative drainage was 97.5 ml; the mean postoperative pain score was 2.9 points at 6 h, 2.8 points at 12 h, and 3.0 points at 24 h; and the mean postoperative nausea and vomiting score was 1.9 points at 6 h, 1.8 points at 12 h, and 1.7 points at 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: Nonintubated minimally invasive chest wall stabilization is safe and feasible in carefully selected patients. Further studies with a large sample size are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1900025698 . Registered on 5 September 2019.

Epidemiology of injury and illness in 153 Australian international-level rowers over eight international seasons.

AIM: To report the epidemiology of injury and illness in elite rowers over eight seasons (two Olympiads). METHODS: All athletes selected to the Australian Rowing Team between 2009 and 2016 were monitored prospectively under surveillance for injury and illness. The incidence and burden of injury and illness were calculated per 1000 athlete days (ADs). The body area, mechanism and type of all injuries were recorded and followed until the resumption of full training. We used interrupted time series analyses to examine the association between fixed and dynamic ergometer testing on rowers' injury rates. Time lost from illness was also recorded. RESULTS: All 153 rowers selected over eight seasons were observed for 48 611 AD. 270 injuries occurred with an incidence of 4.1-6.4 injuries per 1000 AD. Training days lost totalled 4522 (9.2% AD). The most frequent area injured was the lumbar region (84 cases, 1.7% AD) but the greatest burden was from chest wall injuries (64 cases, 2.6% AD.) Overuse injuries (n=224, 83%) were more frequent than acute injuries (n=42, 15%). The most common activity at the time of injury was on-water rowing training (n=191, 68). Female rowers were at 1.4 times the relative risk of chest wall injuries than male rowers; they had half the relative risk of lumbar injuries of male rowers. The implementation of a dynamic ergometers testing policy (Concept II on sliders) was positively associated with a lower incidence and burden of low back injury compared with fixed ergometers (Concept II). Illness accounted for the greatest number of case presentations (128, 32.2% cases, 1.2% AD). CONCLUSIONS: Chest wall and lumbar injuries caused training time loss. Policy decisions regarding ergometer testing modality were associated with lumbar injury rates. As in many sports, illness burden has been under-recognised in elite Australian rowers.

Blunt trauma related chest wall and pulmonary injuries: An overview.

Physical traumas are tragic and multifaceted injuries that suddenly threaten life. Although it is the third most common cause of death in all age groups, one out of four trauma patients die due to thoracic injury or its complications. Blunt injuries constitute the majority of chest trauma. This indicates the importance of chest trauma among all traumas. Blunt chest trauma is usually caused by motor vehicle accident, falling from height, blunt instrument injury and physical assault. As a result of chest trauma, many injuries may occur, such as pulmonary injuries, and these require urgent intervention. Chest wall and pulmonary injuries range from rib fractures to flail chest, pneumothorax to hemothorax and pulmonary contusion to tracheobronchial injuries. Following these injuries, patients may present with a simple dyspnea or even respiratory arrest. For such patient, it is important to understand the treatment logic and to take a multidisciplinary approach to treat the pulmonary and chest wall injuries. This is because only 10% of thoracic trauma patients require surgical operation and the remaining 90% can be treated with simple methods such as appropriate airway, oxygen support, maneuvers, volume support and tube thoracostomy. Adequate pain control in chest trauma is sometimes the most basic and best treatment. With definite diagnosis, the morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced by simple treatment methods.

Prognostic prediction tools and clinician communication: a qualitative study of the effect of the STUMBL tool on clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, researchers and clinicians have been developing prognostic prediction tools (PPTs) as a way of identifying patients at risk of deterioration. The use of PPTs in the clinical environment not only impacts the risk of adverse outcomes for patients, but the use of these tools also effect clinical practice. Much attention has been paid to the clinical performance of PPTs. But more insight is needed on how the use of PPTs impacts clinical practice. The objective of this study was to map some of the ways in which PPTs effect clinical practice. The STUMBL (STUdy evaluating the impact of a prognostic model for Management of BLunt chest wall trauma patients) feasibility trial evaluated the use of a new prognostic prediction tool (PPT) to guide the management blunt chest wall trauma patients in the emergency departments (ED). The trial was undertaken between October 2016 and September 2018 and conducted at four sites in England and Wales. Nested within the feasibility trial was a qualitative study aimed at understanding how ED clinicians experienced and used the PPT. The qualitative methods included a focus group and telephone interviews with 9 ED clinicians. This study focused on participant perceptions of the feasibility and use of the STUMBL tool on clinical practice in the ED. RESULTS: Clinical practice is reshaped as a result of the introduction of the STUMBL PPT into the clinical environment. The PPT enhanced reflexive awareness of prognostic practice; facilitated communication between patients and professionals; helps to guide patient outcomes; and provides a common ground for clinician discussion on prognostication. CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative data collected offered useful insights into the ways in which the tool changes clinical practice. This was a small study of the effect of one kind of PPT on clinical practice. Nevertheless, this study maps areas in which clinical practice is affected by the introduction of a PPT into the clinical environment. More research is needed to better understand these effects, and to understand how these tools become embedded in clinical practice over the longer term.

Spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia: clinical considerations and management.

Most diaphragmatic ruptures are due to the traumatic or penetrating injury, while the spontaneous diaphragmatic rupture is considered uncommon. The spontaneous transdiaphragmatic hernia is a consequence of violent coughing, vomiting that increase the thoracoabdominal pressure causing the diaphragmatic rupture. Even rarer is the concomitant prolapse of abdominal viscera into the thoracic subcutis through the chest wall, a condition known as spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia. Herein, we present a rare case of spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia presenting as a thoracoabdominal emergency.

An international multi-stakeholder delphi consensus exercise to develop a core outcomes set (COS) for surgical fixation of rib fractures.

INTRODUCTION: A patient-relevant, focused Core Outcome Set (COS) is essential to the design of clinical trials dealing with chest wall trauma, in order to maximise quality of evidence regarding impact of interventions and to reduce research waste. METHODS: Outcome measures were collated by way of systematic review and entered into a three round Delphi consensus completed anonymously online. Participants were international clinicians and allied health professionals (AHP) involved in the treatment of rib fractures as well as patients who had experienced severe chest trauma. Consensus thresholds for statements were defined a priori as a group rating of more than 70% or less than 15% for 'important' or 'not important'. RESULTS: Sixty-five participants responded to the first round and the final round Final round consisted of five AHP, two patients and 16 clinicians from eight different countries. Twenty-three outcomes were regarded as important for the COS; eight adverse events, three mortality, five clinical or physiological outcomes, six life impact and one resource-related. Health related quality of life was rated highest of the life impact outcomes but participants thought it was also important to assess disability, physical function, quality of life, return to activities and return to work. CONCLUSION: Collecting serious adverse outcomes was important to all stakeholders as were life impact outcomes such as quality of life, physical function and return to activities. Resource use outcomes were considered less important. We recommend this Core Outcome Set, developed with multiple relevant stakeholders, for use in future clinical trials, following further work on the most appropriate methods and instruments for measurement.

The impact of surgical chest wall damage caused by classic thoracotomy on pulmonary function and morphology.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative changes in pulmonary function (PF) and morphology due to surgical chest wall damage by thoracotomy with rib resection are unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of surgical damage on PF and morphology at > 6 months postoperatively by comparing different lung lobectomy approaches. METHODS: A total of 140 patients who underwent lobectomy for lung diseases between January 2006 and March 2016 were analyzed. Patients who underwent PF tests and computed tomography (CT) scans preoperatively and postoperatively were divided into posterolateral thoracotomy with one rib resection (PT) group and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) group. A 1:1 propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was used to balance clinically important confounders between the groups. Regarding morphology, lung volume was measured semi-automatically using image analysis software and reconstructed three-dimensional (3D) images. RESULTS: After PSM, 31 patients in each group were compared. Perioperative reduction ratios in forced vital capacity (FVC) (- 23% vs. - 13%; P = 0.006) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (- 19% vs. - 12%; P = 0.02) were significantly larger for the PT group. No significant differences in lung volume values based on 3D CT volumetry (PT vs. VATS; total lung volume: - 7.9% vs. - 7.2%, P = 0.82; non-resected ipsilateral lung volume: + 36% vs. + 40%, P = 0.69; contralateral lung volume: + 9.3% vs. + 9.4%, P = 0.98) were found in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Among the patients underwent lobectomy, classic thoracotomy decreased PF by an additional FVC loss of 10% and FEV1 loss of 7% compared with VATS, without affecting residual lung volume.

Blunt chest wall trauma: an overview.

Trauma affecting the chest wall, even in isolation, can carry a significant morbidity and mortality and thus appropriate management is vital. Consequences of chest wall trauma may include significant pain, altered chest wall mechanics, hypoventilation, infection and respiratory failure. In order to best determine the appropriate management, risk stratification tools have been developed to identify patients at highest risk of complications who would most benefit from more invasive management strategies. Early optimization of analgesia is vital both for patient experience and to reduce the risk of pulmonary complications. The analgesic options range from multimodal oral analgesia to invasive regional anaesthetic techniques such as thoracic epidurals, paravertebral catheters, intercostal nerve blocks and fascial plane blocks. Other important considerations include provision of appropriate oxygen therapy, ventilation support and physiotherapy. For a selected group of patients with the most significant injuries, surgical rib fixation may be appropriate if chest wall mechanics are sufficiently impaired.