Myth of the dangerous sternal fracture.
OBJECTIVE
To look at the hospital course and the outcome of patients with an isolated sternal fracture.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of hospital records.


METHODS
A large urban Level I trauma center.


METHODS
Blunt trauma patients with an isolated sternal fracture. Patients with other chest radiograph abnormalities were excluded, as were those with abnormal admission ECGs.


RESULTS
Thirty-one patients with an isolated sternal fracture were identified. No patient developed new ECG changes or arrhythmias during the hospital stay. Cardiac enzymes were elevated in one patient (3.2%). No patient had any adverse cardiopulmonary outcome attributable to the sternal fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of patients with an isolated sternal fracture and a normal ECG is very good. Routine admission and cardiac monitoring do not appear to be warranted in this subset of patients with a sternal fracture.
Wright
S W
SW
Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications