title: Operative treatment of chest wall injuries: indications, technique, and outcomes.
abstract: Most injuries to the chest wall with residual deformity do not result in long-term respiratory dysfunction unless they are associated with pulmonary contusion. Indications for operative fixation include flail chest, reduction of pain and disability, a chest wall deformity or defect, symptomatic nonunion, thoracotomy for other indications, and open fractures. Operative indications for chest wall injuries are rare.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota-Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101, USA.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lafferty
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anavian
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Will
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D001860:Bone Plates; D003288:Contusions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005409:Flail Chest / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000293:injuries*