title: Quality of life after major trauma with multiple rib fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rib fractures are a common injury presenting to major trauma centres and community hospitals. Aside from the acute impact of rib fracture injury, longer-term morbidity of pain, disability and deformity have been described. Despite this, the mainstay of management for the vast majority of rib fracture injuries remains supportive only with analgesia and where required respiratory support. This study aimed to document the long-term quality of life in a cohort of major trauma patients with rib fracture injury over 24 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review (July 2006-July 2011) of 397 major trauma patients admitted to The Alfred Hospital with rib fractures and not treated with operative rib fixation. The main outcome measures were quality of life over 24 months post injury assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended and SF12 health assessment forms and a pain questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment over 24 months of major trauma patients with multiple rib fractures demonstrated significantly lower quality of life compared with published Australian norms at all time points measured. Return to work rates were poor with only 71% of those who were working prior to their accident, returning to any work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates a significant reduction in quality of life for rib fracture patients requiring admission to hospital, which does not return to the level of Australian norms for at least two years.
authors: CJOB Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, The Alfred Hospital, Australia. Electronic address: s.marasco@alfred.org.au.
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Marasco
authors: CJOB Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, The Alfred Hospital, Australia. Electronic address: gerry.lee@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Geraldine
authors: G
authors: Lee
authors: CJOB Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, The Alfred Hospital, Australia. Electronic address: r.summerhayes@alfred.org.au.
authors: Robyn
authors: R
authors: Summerhayes
authors: Trauma Service, The Alfred Hospital, Australia. Electronic address: m.fitzgerald@alfred.org.au.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: michael.bailey@med.monash.edu.au.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005409:Flail Chest / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Flail chest; Quality of life; Rib fracture