title: Methocarbamol use is associated with decreased hospital length of stay in trauma patients with closed rib fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of methocarbamol on hospital length of stay in patients with closed rib fracture injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in an academic medical center in the United States. Adult trauma patients, who sustained closed rib fractures, were included. Patients were categorized based on whether they received methocarbamol or not during admission. The primary outcome of interest was time to hospital discharge in days (i.e. length of hospital stay). A Cox Proportional Hazards Model was constructed to determine if methocarbamol use was associated with a greater likelihood of earlier discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 592 patients were included in the final study cohort. Of these, 329 received methocarbamol and 263 did not receive methocarbamol. In the Cox Proportional Hazards Model methocarbamol use was associated with a greater likelihood of being discharged from the hospital (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.78, p < 0.001). .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of methocarbamol after traumatic rib fractures may result in a reduction in the length of hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. Electronic address: patanwala@pharmacy.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Asad E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Patanwala
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. Electronic address: aljuhani@pharmacy.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Ohoud
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aljuhani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ, USA. Electronic address: Brian.Kopp@bannerhealth.com.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. Electronic address: erstad@pharmacy.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Erstad
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008721:Methocarbamol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D008721:Methocarbamol
keywords: Central; Methocarbamol; Muscle relaxants; Neuromuscular agents; Wounds and injuries