Clinical management of flail chest in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 24 cases (1989-1999).
Cases of flail chest injury for 24 client-owned companion animals following various traumas were evaluated. Concurrently sustained injuries, initial emergency treatments, and definitive treatment and outcome for regimens that utilize stabilization of the flail segment were compared with cases treated with no stabilization. Flail chest was confirmed in 24 animals: 21 dogs and three cats. There was an even division (12 each) of right and left flail segments. The median number of ribs involved was three (range, two to seven). Flail segment stabilization was performed in nine, and 15 were treated with no stabilization. Statistical analysis using multiple data permutations evaluating all combinations failed to reveal a significant difference in outcome between stabilized and unstabilized cases.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-5606, USA.
Dennis
D
Olsen
Walter
W
Renberg
Jamis
J
Perrett
Joe G
JG
Hauptman
Don R
DR
Waldron
Eric
E
Monnet
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries*; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005409:Flail Chest / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007615:Kansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology