• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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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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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.352-359
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• 1985

A clinical evaluation was performed on 811 cases of chest trauma who were admitted and treated at the department of thoracic & cardiovascular surgery, Catholic Medical College, during the past 19 years from Jan. 1966 to Dec. 1984. 1. The overall incidence rate of male to female was 3:1. 2. The common age groups were 4th, 5th, and 3rd decades. 3. The most common cause of chest trauma was stab in penetrating wound and traffic accidents in non penetrating wound. 4. The most common injury from non penetrating chest trauma was rib fracture [81.3%], and the incidence rate of flail chest was 14.5% of all cases of rib fractures. 5. The incidence rate of hemo-pneumothorax was 50.4% in non penetrating wounds, and 55.2% in penetrating wounds. 6. The most common method of surgical treatment was CTD [33.5%], and open thoracotomy was performed in 67 cases [8.3%]. 7, The overall mortality was 3.3% [27 cases], and common causes of the death were shock and respiratory insufficiency.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.847-850
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• 1995

For the purpose of evaluation of clinical characteristics in multiple rib fracture due to accident , 24 cases treated by surgical rib fixation using Judet`s strut for multiple rib fracture and flail chestduring the period from June 1993 to October 1994 were reviewed. There were 17 males and 7 females.They ranged in age from 19 years old to 56 years old. The causes of rib fracture were traffic accident in 18 cases, fall down in 3 cases, compression in 2 cases stab wound in 1 case. The number of rib fracture were five in 7 cases, six in 5 cases, four in 5 cases, three in 3 cases. Associated intrathoracic injuries were hemopneumothorax in 12 cases, hemothorax in 10 cases, lung laceration or hemorrhagic contusion in 7 cases. Associated extrathoracic injuries were abdominal injuries in 21 cases, orthopedic problem in 7 cases, head trauma in 4 cases. The most common fractured site was posterolateral portion of the ribs. The causes for operation were flail chest, severe rib displacement and pain, hemothorax or hemopneumothorax with continuous air leakage and stab wound. There were 6 postoperative complications ; one with hydrothorax, two with fibrothorax, two with wound infection and one case of death due to multiful organ failure. Postoperatively, all patients became comfortable and complained less painful. Twenty patients restored spontaneous breathing without ventilator support, three patients were ventilated during a day and one patient expired after 2 days. There were no morbidity and mortality related to operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1027-1034
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• 1990

Pectus excavatum, commonest developmental anomaly of chest wall, is manifested by depression of the sternum and lower costal cartilages that is of surgical interest. From 1982 through 1990, fifteen patients have undergone surgery for treatment of pectus excavatum and treated by Ravitch operation: 5, Modified Ravitch operation; 4, Wada operation, 1 and Modified Wada operation, 5. There was familial history of pectus excavatum in 3 patients. Associated congenital anomaly were seen in 6 patients; scoliosis in 3 patients, right inguinal hernia in 1, polydactyly in 1 and patent ductus arteriosus in 1 patent. Postoperative minor complications were developed in 3 cases; pneumothorax, 2 cases; pleural effusion, 2 cases; wound infection and dehiscence, 1 cases; pressure sore due to strut malposition, 2 cases; flail chest and 2 cases; seroma. The incidence of the postoperative complications were more common in cases who were treated by metal strut, pin or other prosthetic materials for supporting the chest wall integrity than the standard corrective procedure. All cases have no recurrence of chest wall depression and operative death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.736-744
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• 1990

From Jan. 1985 to Sep. 1989, four hundred and ten patients were admitted to the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine with a diagnosis of nonpenetrating chest trauma. The most common cause of injury were motor vehicle accidents(75.1%) with the prevalent age group being their forties. The four most common findings were rib fracture(83.4%), hemothorax(50.7%), pneumothorax(24.6%) and clavicle fracture(12.0%), Fifty piratory insufficiency and the ventilation time was correlated with 6 fators : 1) shock 2) endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy 3) hemothorax 4) clavicle fracture 5) flail chest 6) more than three combined injuries or combined head injury. Ventilatory care was also related with mortality and complications such as pneumonia sepsis and empyema thoracis(p<0.05). The most common organism of post-traumatic infection were Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of patients with complex rib fractures undergoing operative or nonoperative management at our major trauma center. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who were considered for surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) at a single major trauma center from May 2016 to September 2022 was performed. Results: In total, 352 patients with complex rib fractures were identified. Thirty-seven patients (11%) fulfilled the criteria for surgical management and underwent SSRF. The SSRF group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with flail chest (32 [86%] vs. 94 [27%], p<0.001) or Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15 (37 [100%] vs. 129 [41%], p<0.001). No significant differences were seen between groups for 1-year mortality. Patients who underwent SSRF within 72 hours were 6 times less likely to develop pneumonia than those in whom SSRF was delayed for over 72 hours (2 [18%] vs. 15 [58%]; odds ratio, 0.163; 95% confidence interval, 0.029-0.909; p=0.036). Prompt SSRF showed non-significant associations with shorter intensive care unit length of stay (6 days vs. 10 days, p=0.140) and duration of mechanical ventilation (5 days vs. 8 days, p=0.177). SSRF was associated with a longer hospital length of stay compared to nonoperative patients with flail chest and/or ISS >15 (19 days vs. 13 days, p=0.012), whilst SSRF within 72 hours was not. Conclusion: Surgical fixation of complex rib fractures improves outcomes in selected patient groups. Delayed surgical fixation was associated with increased rates of pneumonia and a longer hospital length of stay.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.715-722
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• 1987

A clinical analysis was performed on 823 cases of the chest trauma experienced at department of thoracic & cardiovascular surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital during the past 8 years from Jan, 1978 to Aug. 1986. 1. the ratio of male to female patient of the chest trauma was 3:1 in male predominance. 2. The common age groups were 3rd, 4th and 5th decades. 3. The most common causes of the chest trauma was traffic accidents [79.8%] were injured due to non-penetrating injuries and the remainders [166/823, 20.2%] were injured due to penetrating injuries 4. The frequently injured site of the chest trauma was left side of the chest [46%], and the right side was 42% 5. The most common injury from non-penetrating trauma was rib fracture [77.5%], and the incidence rate of flail chest was 59% of all cases of rib fractures. 6. The incidence rate of hemopneumothorax was 42.9% in non-penetrating traumas, and 84.3% in penetrating traumas. 7. The most common method of surgical treatment was closed tube thoracostomy [37.3%], and open thoracotomy was performed in 71 cases [8.6%]. 8. the overall mortality was 2.2%, and common causes of death were cerebral damage, respiratory insufficiency, and hypovolemic shock.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 1997

From January, 1992 to June, 1996, )7 patients with flail chest were treated at Sonnchunhyang university hospital. 15 patients were managed by internal fixation of fractured ribs, whereas the remaining 22 patients were managed by endotracheal intubation and intermittent positive-pressure ventilation alone. There were no difference between two groups in age, sex, the severity of injury to the chest wall and the nature of associated injuries. Average dur'Btion of assisted ventilation was 5.7 $\pm$ 1.7 days in the patients treated by internal fixation versus 8.7 $\pm$ 3.3 days In the patients treated by continuous me hanical ventilation. Average stay in the intensive care unit was 8.3 $\pm$ 3.9 days for the patients treated by internal fixation, whereas it was $13.2\pm4.1$ days in the group treated by continuous mechanical ventilation alone. In the group treated by internal fixation, complications were 3 atelectases(20.0%), 1 pneumonia(6.7%), 2 operative wound problems(12.3%) and 1 barotrauma(6.7%). In the other group, 7 atelectases(31.8%), 4 pneumonitis(18.2%), 2 empyemas(9.1%) and 3 barotraumas(1).6%). The mortality rate was 13.3%(2/15) in the surgically treated patients, whereas it was 22.7%(5122) in the other group. The treatment of flail chest by internal fixation resulted in speedy recovery, decreased complications and mortalities, and better ultimatc cosmetic and functional results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.699-706
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• 1986

We have experienced 5 cases of Pectus excavatum corrected by Ravitch method without use of K-wire or metal bar from Jan. 1985 to Apr. 1986. All cases were male. The symmetric depression was in 4 cases, asymmetric one was in one case. The chief complaints were dyspnea on exertion, frequent U.R.I. and inferiority. The flail chest was developed in all cases, but it was insignificant in all cases except one who needed assist ventilation. Mediastinitis was developed in one case one week postoperatively but well managed with drainage. A distance from the posterior surface of sternum to the anterior surface of vertebral body was estimated preoperatively and postoperatively. Postoperative result was evaluated as the change of distance postoperatively. The change was 1.5cm minimally to 3.5cm maximally. Late results were "Excellent" in 3 cases and "Good" in 2 cases.uot; in 2 cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 1981

190 cases of the thoracic injuries experienced at the department of chest surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, for 5 years from Jan. 1976 till Dec 1980, were analysed. The results are as follows; 1. The incidence rate of male to female was 5.1:1. The common age groups were 3rd, 4th and 5th decades, and the most common age group in the penetrating injury was 3rd decade. 2. The most common mode of the nonpenetrating injuries was a traffic accident [63.0%], and the most commonly used tool in the penetrating injuries is a knife [66.7%]. 3. The most common nonpenetrating injury was rib fracture [73.9%], and the common fracture sites were 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th ribs [especially, 7th rib]. The incidence rate of flail chest was 15% of the cases of the rib fractures. 4. The common associated injuries of the nonpenetrating were long bone fracture [18.3%], brain contusion [15.9%], and clavicle fracture etc.. 5. The common method of surgical treatment were closed thoracostomy [46.7%], thoracentesis, and open thoracotomy [7.4%] etc.. 6. The overall mortality was 2.8%. [Nonpenetrating; 0.8%, Penetrating; 6.3%]