Isolated rib fractures in elderly patients: mortality and morbidity.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the management, morbidity and mortality seen with isolated rib fractures in elderly patients and assess the need for hospitalization.


METHODS
A case series.


METHODS
A tertiary care centre in Tel Aviv.


METHODS
Hospital records of 77 elderly patients (age 65 yr and older) admitted with isolated rib fractures were reviewed over a 9-year period.


METHODS
Demographic, medical and hospitalization data, blood hemoglobin and oxygen saturation levels.


RESULTS
The number of fractured ribs was found to correlate with the morbidity (p = 0.027) and mortality (p = 0.006). There were no significant differences in these rates with respect to comorbidity except for diabetes (higher morbidity) and congestive heart failure (higher mortality). Twenty-eight patients (36%) had pulmonary complications and 1 had cardiac complications. Pulmonary complications were fatal in 6 patients (7.8%). Multivariate analysis of the factors related to morbidity demonstrated that only oxygen saturation (p = 0.0009) and diabetes (p = 0.03) correlated significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of significant morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with isolated rib fractures, prediction of the prognosis for these patients is presently not possible. Admission for observation and treatment is therefore justified and beneficial.
Barnea
Yoav
Y
Department of Surgery A, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. barneay@netvision.net.il
Kashtan
Hanoch
H
Skornick
Yehuda
Y
Werbin
Nahum
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors