Clinical outcomes of multiple rib fractures: Does age matter?

H. Abdulrahman, I. Afifi, A. El-Menyar, A. Al-Hassani, A. Almadani, H. Al-Thani, R. Latifi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of multiple rib fracture due to blunt trauma in young patients, a 3-year retrospective study was conducted. Patients with ≥3 rib fractures were divided into two groups (group I: <45 years old and group II: ≥45 years old). Mortality, hospital stay, ventilatory support, chest tubes insertion and associated injuries were studied. Results: Of the 902 patients admitted with blunt chest trauma, 240 (27 %) met the inclusion criteria and 72.5 % patients were <45 years old. The most common causes of injury were motor vehicle crash (59 %) and fall (29 %). The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in group I (16 ± 9 vs. 13 ± 6; p = 0.04). Hospital mortality was higher in group II (6 vs. 2 %; p = 0.18). Pneumothorax, haemothorax and ventilatory support were comparable. Patients in group II were more likely to undergo chest tubes insertion (26 vs. 14 %; p = 0.04), while group I had a significantly higher incidence of associated abdominal injuries (25 vs. 12 %; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Old age presenting with rib fractures is associated with higher mortality in comparison to young age; however, this difference becomes statistically insignificant in the presence of multiple rib fracture.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)605-611
Number of pages7
JournalEuropean Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Volume39
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Age
  • Blunt chest trauma
  • Multiple rib fracture

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Clinical outcomes of multiple rib fractures: Does age matter?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this