• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.175-179
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• 2010

Purpose: Sternal fractures after blunt thoracic trauma can cause significant pain and disability. They are relatively uncommon as a result of direct trauma to the sternum and open reduction is reserved for those with debilitating pain and fracture displacement. We reviewed consecutive 11 cases of open reduction and fixation of sternum and tried to find standard approach to the traumatic sternal fractures with severe displacement. Methods: From December 2008 to August 2010, the medical records of 11 patients who underwent surgical reduction and fixation of sternum for sternal fractures with severe displacement were reviewed. We investigated patients' characteristics, chest trauma, associated other injuries, type of open reduction and fixation, combined operations, preoerative ventilator support and postoperative complications. Results: The mean patient age was 59.3years (range, 41~79). The group comprised 6 male and 5 female subjects. Among 11 patients who underwent open reduction and fixation for sternal fracture with severe displacement, 6 cases had isolated sternal fractures and the other 5 patients had associated other injuries. Sternal fractures were caused by car accidents (9/11, 81.8%), falling down (1/11, 9.1%) and direct blunt trauma to the sternum (1/11, 9.1%), respectively. 3 of the 7 patients (42.9%) who underwent sternal plating with longitudinal plates showed loosening of fixation. Otherwise, none of the 4 patients who underwent surgical fixation using T-shaped plate had stable alignment of the fracture. Conclusion: Sternal fractures with severe displacement need to be repaired to prevent chronic pain, instability of the anterior chest wall, deformity of the sternum, and even kyphosis. In the present study, a T-shaped plate with a compression-tension mechanism constitutes the treatment of choice for displaced sternal fractures.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.362-368
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• 2023

Purpose: Clinical reports on treatment outcomes of sternal fractures are lacking. This study details the clinical features, treatment approaches, and outcomes related to traumatic sternal fractures over a 10-year period at a single institution. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients admitted to a regional trauma center between January 2012 and December 2021. Among 7,918 patients with chest injuries, 266 were diagnosed with traumatic sternal fractures. Patient data were collected, including demographics, injury mechanisms, severity, associated injuries, sternal fracture characteristics, hospital stay duration, mortality, respiratory complications, and surgical details. Surgical indications encompassed emergency cases involving intrathoracic injuries, unstable fractures, severe dislocations, flail chest, malunion, and persistent high-grade pain. Results: Of 266 patients with traumatic sternal fractures, 260 were included; 98 underwent surgical treatment for sternal fractures, while 162 were managed conservatively. Surgical indications ranged from intrathoracic organ or blood vessel injuries necessitating thoracotomy to unstable fractures with severe dislocations. Factors influencing surgical treatment included flail motion and rib fracture. The median length of intensive care unit stay was 5.4 days (interquartile range [IQR], 1.5-18.0 days) for the nonsurgery group and 8.6 days (IQR, 3.3-23.6 days) for the surgery group. The median length of hospital stay was 20.9 days (IQR, 9.3-48.3 days) for the nonsurgery group and 27.5 days (IQR, 17.0 to 58.0 days) for the surgery group. The between-group differences were not statistically significant. Surgical interventions were successful, with stable bone union and minimal complications. Flail motion in the presence of rib fracture was a crucial consideration for surgical intervention. Conclusions: Surgical treatment recommendations for sternal fractures vary based on flail chest presence, displacement degree, and rib fracture. Surgery is recommended for patients with offset-type sternal fractures with rib and segmental sternal fractures. Surgical intervention led to stable bone union and minimal complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.361-365
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• 2016

Background: Sternal fractures are relatively rare, and caused mainly by blunt anterior chest wall trauma. In most cases, sternal fractures are treated conservatively. However, if the patient exhibits problematic symptoms such as intractable chest wall pain or bony crepitus due to sternal instability, surgical correction is indicated. But no consensus exists regarding the most appropriate surgical method. We analyzed the results of surgical fixation in cases of sternal fracture in order to identify which surgical method led to the best outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with sternal fractures from December 2008 to December 2011, and found 19 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the sternum with a longitudinal plate (L-group) or a T-shaped plate (T-group). We investigated patients' characteristics, clinical details regarding each case of chest trauma, the presence of other associated injuries, the type of open reduction and fixation, whether a combined operation was performed, and postoperative complications. Results: Of the 19 patients, 10 patients (52.6%) were male, and their average age was 56.8 years (range, 32 to 82 years). Seven patients (36.8%) had isolated sternal fractures, while 12 (63.2%) had other associated injuries. Seven patients (36.8%) were in the L-group and 12 patients (63.2%) were in the T-group. Three patients in the L-group (42.9%) showed a loosening of the fixation. In all patients in the T-group, the fracture exhibited stable alignment. Conclusion: Open reduction and internal fixation with a T-shaped plate in sternal fractures is a safer and more efficient treatment method than treatment with a longitudinal plate, especially in patients with a severely displaced sternum or anterior flail chest, than a longitudinal plate.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.170-176
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• 2021

Purpose: Traumatic sternal fractures are rare but quite disabling injuries. Timely fixation of sternal fractures reduces pain and prevents respiratory complications. However, the fixation technique should be simple, effective, and readily available in local circumstances. Methods: From January 2014 to March 2020, seven patients with sternal fracture/dislocation underwent steel wire fixation with the new "Timala" technique. In this technique, adjacent ribs are anchored with two steel wires to form an "X" in front of the fractured segment of the sternum. Patients were followed up clinically and radiologically. Results: Six of the patients were men and one was a female. Five of them had injuries due to falls and two were injured in road traffic accidents. Their age ranged from 18 years to 76 years, with a median age of 41 years. All seven patients experienced immediate recovery from pain and showed evidence of fracture healing on postoperative chest X-rays and clinical examinations. Conclusions: Anchoring ribs to fix the sternum with steel wire is a safe, effective, easily available, and reproducible method to fix sternal fractures or dislocations.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.713-718
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• 1997

흉부 외상은 경우에 따라서 심근 손상, 대혈관 손상, 척추 손상 등의 심각한 합병 손상을 일으킬 수 있기 때문에 신속한 진단과 적절한 처치를 해야 한다. 이에 순천향 대학교 의과대학 흉부외과학교실에서는 1986 년 1월부터 1995년 12월까지 흉골 골절로 입원, 치료 받았던 101명의 환자를 대상으로 후향적 조사를 하였 다. 흉골골비관통성 흉부 손상 환자 2877명중 3.51%였으며, 남녀비는 1.82 : 1 로 남자에서 많았다. 손상원인은 차량에 의한 추돌사고가 73례로 가장 많았으며, 골절 부위는 흉골 체부 골절이 75례로 가장 많았다. 평균 재 원일수는 26일 이었으며 9주 이상 장기 치료받은 9명을 제외하면 18일이었다. 심전도상 이상소견은 동성 서 맥 7례, 완전 혹은 불완전 우각차단 6례, 동성 빈맥 4례, 의미있는 5-T분절 이상 3례, 1도 차단 2례, 좌심실 비대, 심실 조기 수축, 심전도 저전압이 각 1레씩 있었으며 CPK-b%분획상 비 정상적 증가 소견을 보인 경 우는 32.1%였다. 치료중 사망한 2명을 제외한 99명중 94명이 보존적 치료를 받았고, 5명이 흉골 고정술을 시 행받았다. 수술후의 합병증은 창상감염이 1례 있었다. 입원 치료중 2명이 사망하였는\ulcorner, 원인은 저혈량성 쇼 크, 급성 호흡 부전이 각각 1명이었다. 이상의 결과로 보아 흉골 골절은 그 빈도가 많지 않고 심한 합병증이 유발되는 경우도 적으며, 대부분의 경우 보존적 치료로 회복된다고는 하지만 소홀히 했을 경우 생명에 치명적인 영향을 줄 수 있으므로 보다 더 신속하고 정확한 진단이 이루어져야 하겠다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제34권12호
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• pp.937-943
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• 2001

배경 : 본 연구의 목적은 흉골골절에서 심혈관계 동반 손상의 예측인자를 알아내고 응급 심장 초음파검사의 적응증을 제시하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 1994년 3월부터 5년간 이화여자대학교 부속 목동병원 응급실을 통해 입원한 흉골골절로 입원한 40명의 환자들을 대상으로 후향적 분석을 시행하였다. 예측인자로서는 1) 안전띠 착용의 유무, 2) 동반 손상의 유무, 3) 심혈관계 질환의 병력 유무, 4) 내원시 환자의 RTS(Revised Trauma Score) 4가지를 대상으로 분석하였다. 또한 심혈관계 손상의 동반 유무를 파악하기 위하여 일반적으로 사용하는 심전도와 흉부 단순 촬영 및 심근 효소의 분획을 조사하였으며, 그 결과에서, 흉골골절에서 응급 심장 초음파 검사의 적응증을 추론하였다. 결과 : 흉골골절에서 심혈관계 손상의 동반 유무를 나타내는데 통계적으로 의미가 있다고 나온 인자로는 심혈관계 과거 병력이 있는 경우와 입원시 RTS의 이상을 들 수 있다. 응급 심장 초음파검사의 시행은 예측인자들과 심전도와 흉부 단순 촬영 및 심근 효소의 분획 같은 일반적으로 사용하는 검사 결과에 따라 시행하였다. 흉골골절 환자에서 응급 심장 초음파검사의 적응으로 1) 의미 있는 예측 인자의 변화가 없더라도 두 개 이상의 검사에서 이상소견을 보이던가, 2) 예측인자의 의미있는 변화가 하나 이상 나오는 경우를 들 수 있다. 결론 : 흉골골절 환자에서 심혈관계의 과거 병력과 초기활력 징후가 심혈관 동반 손상 유무를 중요하게 나타날 수 있으며, 필요한 경우, 응급 심장 초음파 검사를 시행하여 조기에 확진을 내리는 것이 중요하다고 생각한다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.309-311
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• 2013

A 43-year-old man experienced chest trauma due to a car accident. Compound sternal fractures with severe dislocation were seen on computed tomography of the chest. Using a SternaLock plating system with manual reduction, fixation of the sternal fracture was successfully performed. There were no complications related to the operation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.184-186
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• 2016

Although sternal fractures are relatively common, treatment has not been clarified. Thus, the authors report a case of a patient with a sternal fracture associated with a thoracic spinal fracture who had received conservative treatment, but the outcome was not satisfactory.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제49권5호
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• pp.366-373
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• 2016

Background: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that in patients with chronic complex sternum dehiscence, the use of muscle flap repair minimizes the occurrence of paradoxical motion of the chest wall (CWPM) when compared to sternal rewiring, eventually leading to better respiratory function and clinical outcomes during follow-up. Methods: In a propensity score matching analysis, out of 94 patients who underwent sternal reconstruction, 20 patients were selected: 10 patients underwent sternal reconstruction with bilateral pectoralis muscle flaps (group 1) and 10 underwent sternal rewiring (group 2). Eligibility criteria included the presence of hemisternum diastases associated with multiple (${\geq}$3) bone fractures and radiologic evidence of synchronous chest wall motion (CWSM). We compared radiologically assessed (volumetric computed tomography) ventilatory mechanic indices such as single lung and global vital capacity (VC), diaphragm excursion, synchronous and paradoxical chest wall motion. Results: Follow-up was 100% complete (mean $85{\pm}24months$). CWPM was inversely correlated with single lung VC (Spearman R=-0.72, p=0.0003), global VC (R=-0.51, p=0.02) and diaphragm excursion (R=-0.80, p=0.0003), whereas it proved directly correlated with dyspnea grade (Spearman R=0.51, p=0.02) and pain (R=0.59, p=0.005). Mean CWPM and single lung VC were both better in group 1, whereas there was no difference in CWSM, diaphragm excursion and global VC. Conclusion: Our study suggests that in patients with complex chronic sternal dehiscence, pectoralis muscle flap reconstruction guarantees lower CWPM and greater single-lung VC when compared with sternal rewiring and it is associated with better clinical outcomes with less pain and dyspnea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.211-214
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• 2003

흉골골절은 흉부외상에서 흔히 볼 수 있는 손상으로 합병증 없이 잘 회복되며 골절에 의한 종격동혈종도 대부분 양성경과를 보이며 드물게 심혈관 손상을 동반한다. 저자들은 흉골골절에서 다른 출혈의 원인 없이 골절 자체에 의한 출혈로 생긴 종격동혈종에 의한 심낭외 압전을 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.