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Journal Article

Citation

Brookes JG, Dunn RJ, Rogers IR. J. Trauma 1993; 35(1): 46-54.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Box Hill Hospital, Victoria, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8331712

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, morbidity, and mortality associated with fractures of the sternum. DESIGN: A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients treated in an emergency department with the radiologic diagnosis of sternal fracture during a 6 1/2 year period between January 1, 1985 and June 30, 1991. SETTING: A level II trauma center in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Patients: 272 patients were eligible for analysis. Only 6 patients of 251 involved in motor vehicle collisions were documented as not wearing seatbelts. RESULTS: The incidence of sternal fracture as a result of motor vehicle collisions was 3%. Sternal fracture is more common in female victims and the elderly and is associated with a very low incidence of cardiac arrhythmias requiring treatment. It has a mortality of 0.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Sternal fracture is a common injury in a population where restraints are frequently used. Patients with an isolated sternal fracture do not require cardiac monitoring and those under 40 years of age may be cared for in a short stay ward.


Language: en

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