TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1996//
TI  - Rib fractures in major trauma
JO  - Australian and New Zealand journal of surgery
A1  - Cameron, Peter
A1  - Dziukas, L.
A1  - Hadj, A.
A1  - Clark, P.
A1  - Hooper, S.
SP  - 530
EP  - 534
VL  - 66
IS  - 8
N2  - BACKGROUND: To determine the mortality, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay of rib fractures in patients admitted to Victorian hospitals for more than 1 day. METHODS: All patients fitting the entry criteria for the Victorian Major Trauma Study with fractured ribs were identified between 1 March 1992 and 28 February 1993. Aetiology, age, sex, associated injury and outcome were analysed. RESULTS: Patients with rib fractures had a higher mortality and length of hospital stay, but this was not significantly different from other trauma. A significantly higher percentage of patients required ICU care for rib fractures (44%) compared with the total group with blunt injury (24%). The majority of rib fractures resulted from motor vehicle accidents 361/541 (67%). Injuries occurring on the street/highway resulting in rib fractures were more likely to be major; 62% had Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15. Fractured ribs occurred more commonly with increased age. Mortality for patients with fractured ribs versus total trauma group was higher in elderly patients. Univariate analysis showed rib fractures were a positive predictor of death but when adjusted for ISS and age, rib fractures became a negative predictor. Rib fractures were not predictors for length of ICU or hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The sample of rib fractures collected in this study underestimates the overall incidence. For those patients admitted to hospital with identified rib fractures, there is a trend towards higher mortality and morbidity. However, this association is better predicted by ISS and age.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0004-8682
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -