Chest Wall Repair of Rib Fractures After Trauma

Chest Wall Stabilization for Traumatic Chest Wall Injuries: An Observational Study

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00926991

Enrollment

Registered

2009-06-24

Start date

2009-08-31

Completion date

2010-09-30

Last updated

2011-03-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Rib Fractures

Brief summary

This is a prospective, observational trial of 50 patients who have multiple, severe rib fractures following trauma. The investigators will follow their hospital stay for outcomes (infections, length of stay and medical care) as well as their early post-hospital course.

Detailed description

Hypothesis: Rib fracture repair utilizing open reduction and internal fixation with commercially available rib plating systems improves outcomes (i.e., infectious complications), decreases hospital stay and mortality. Study Design: This is a prospective, observational study of 50 patients who, due to their injury pattern, are operative candidates for open reduction and internal fixation with commercial available rib plating systems for one of the following indications: 1. Flail chest with/without failure to wean from the ventilator 2. Significantly displaced rib fractures with/without lung impalement 3. Symptomatic multiple rib fractures - Failure of pain control Outcome measures to be evaluated include: 1. Hospital Mortality 2. Ventilator free days 3. Need for tracheotomy 4. Infectious Complications (pneumonia, bacteremia, UTI, empyema) 5. Hospital & ICU Days 6. Disposition following discharge

Interventions

OTHERNo intervention

No intervention; observation only

Study design

Observational model

COHORT

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Subjects must be at least \>18 years of age * Subjects must have one of the following clinical indications: * \>3 rib flail segments with paradoxical chest wall movement * Non-repair of defect may result in pulmonary hernia * Minimal associated injuries * Severely displaced fractures are significantly impeding lung expansion. * Failure of narcotics or epidural pain catheter to control pain

Exclusion criteria

* Significant pulmonary contusion * Significant brain injury (AIS 4 and/or ICP monitoring) * Severe associated injuries which, in the opinion of the surgeon will preclude operative chest wall stabilization * Subjects not expected to survive the 90-day follow-up period * Known pregnancy * Prisoners

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
pain scales	daily
ventilator requirement	daily
hospital days	discharge

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026