title: Sternal fractures: associated injuries and management.
abstract: Prospective data from blunt trauma victims admitted to one hospital were analyzed to determine the significance of sternal fractures and possible associated injuries. A total of 12,618 patients were admitted over a 6 1/2 year period, of whom 2226 (17.6%) were injured while in a motor vehicle. One hundred seventy-two sternal fractures were recorded with 152 (89%) occurring in motor vehicle occupants. Vehicle occupants with sternal fractures included a greater proportion of patients over 50 years (56% vs. 11%), more females (55% vs. 34%) and more seat belt wearers (70% vs. 40%). There was no association with serious visceral chest injury (including cardiac contusion). There was an association with thoracic spine fractures (Chi-squared 5.871, df = 1, p < 0.05). Sternal fractures in motor vehicle occupants were associated with less injury overall (median ISS = 5.5) compared with those without sternal fractures (median ISS = 13). Assessment of such patients should include age and injury mechanism to reduce the rate of admission and investigation of patients whose sole injury is a sternal fracture without significant pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hills
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Delprado
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Deane
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries*; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000401:mortality