title: Sternal fractures and their management.
abstract: Sternal fractures are predominantly associated with deceleration injuries and blunt anterior chest trauma. Sternal trauma must be carefully evaluated by monitoring of vital parameters and it is of paramount importance that concomitant injuries are excluded. Nevertheless, routine admission of patients with isolated sternal fractures for observation is still common in today's practice, which is often unnecessary. This article aims to describe the prognosis, the recommended assessment and management of patients with sternal fractures, to help clinicians make an evidence-based judgment regarding the need for hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Lister Hospital, Stevenage SG1 4AB, Hertfordshire, England.
authors.forename: Al-Achraf
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khoriati
authors.forename: Ramyah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajakulasingam
authors.forename: Rakhee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
keywords: Fracture; management; sternum; trauma