title: The clinical application of absorbable intramedullary nail and claw plate on treating multiple rib fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The absorption intramedullary nail and claw plate indications and efficacy were investigated in the treatment of a life-threatening multiple rib fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 248 surgically treated rib fracture patients was performed who admitted to our hospital from March 2007 to December 2012. Intramedullary nailing was performed in 28 cases, a claw-type bone plate was fixed in 141 cases, and a combination of both was fixed in 79 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All internal fixation patients were clinically cured except 1 patient died 14 days after a massive pulmonary embolism. The patients with flail chest and floating chest wall causing respiratory and circulatory disorders were promptly corrected. Routine follow-up was from 1 to 2 years, displaced fractures were in 2 cases, and there were 11 cases of internal fixation and extraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internal fixation is a simple and reliable method for the treatment of multiple rib fractures. Both internal fixation materials have their pros and cons but the claw bone plate is more robust. The actual selection of appropriate treatment options helps to improve the treatment efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China - cxj1976@gmail.com.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult