title: Flail chest stabilization with palacos prosthesis.
abstract: The approach and management of patients with post-traumatic flail chest continue to be a controversial issue. A method of surgical stabilization of flail chest using palacos, a cement-like material is described. A ready-made prosthesis is placed on the external side of the ribs vertically bridging the flailed chest segment, and fixed to the first upper and first lower intact rib as well as to the mobile segments of the affected ribs. Surgical fixation was carried out in 56 patients. The results proved the method to be a simple and effective procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pula General Hospital, Pula, Croatia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glavas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altarac
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vukas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivancić
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Drazinić
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gusić
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Celović
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mirković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005409:Flail Chest / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate