A randomized clinical trial of rib belts for simple fractures.
The authors present a pilot study in which 20 patients with simple rib fractures were randomized prospectively into two treatment groups. One group received ibuprofen and the other group ibuprofen plus a rib belt for analgesia. There were no statistically significant differences observed in pulmonary function testing between the groups at initial visit, 48 hours, or 5 days. Atelectasis developed in four patients, two in each treatment group; there were no cases of pneumonitis. Patients with displaced rib fractures experienced a higher rate of hemo- or pneumothorax than did those with nondisplaced fractures (5/10 v 1/10). Patients with displaced fractures who used rib belts experienced a higher rate of hemothorax than those using oral analgesia alone (4/6 v 1/4). Patients using rib belts uniformly reported a significant amount of additional pain relief. The clinician can use a rib belt to provide additional comfort to the patient with fractured ribs without apparent additional compromise to respiratory parameters. A further study stratifying displaced and nondisplaced fractures has been initiated to clarify the possible contributing roles of displaced rib fractures and the rib belt in patients with displaced fractures.
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Emergency Department, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. 63110.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages / Q000009:adverse effects; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D059408:Pain Management; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
D007052:Ibuprofen