title: Chest Wall Trauma.
abstract: Chest wall trauma is common, and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality of trauma patients. Early identification of major chest wall and concomitant intrathoracic injuries is critical. Generalized management of multiple rib fractures and flail chest consists of adequate pain control (including locoregional modalities); management of pulmonary dysfunction by invasive and noninvasive means; and, in some cases, surgical fixation. Multiple studies have shown that patients with flail chest have substantial benefit (decreased ventilator and intensive care unit days, improved pulmonary function, and improved long-term functional outcome) when they undergo surgery compared with nonoperative management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Intermountain Medical Center, 5121 South Cottonwood Street, Murray, UT 84107, USA. Electronic address: Sarah.majercik@imail.org.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majercik
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 777 Bannock Street, MC0206, Denver, CO 80204, USA.
authors.forename: Fredric M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pieracci
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005409:Flail Chest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Chest trauma; Flail chest; Rib fractures; Surgical stabilization of rib fractures