Reoperative surgical stabilization of a painful nonunited rib fracture using bone grafting and a metal plate.
We report a case of a nonunited sixth rib in a patient with multiple rib fractures who underwent internal fixation using a wire and Judet strut 3 times. During the following 3 years, the patient continued to complain of pain and instability. At surgery, a pseudarthrosis between the ends of the sixth rib was excised. A longitudinal gutter crossing the fracture site was fashioned and splinted with an inlay block of cancellous bone grafted from the iliac crest; stabilization was accomplished with a reconstruction plate and screws. The following 2 years of follow-up demonstrated no instability or pain.
Cho
Yang Hyun
YH
Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 152-703, Korea.
Kim
Hyun Koo
HK
Kang
Du-Young
DY
Choi
Young Ho
YH
D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017759:Fractures, Malunited / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome