The Unstable Thoracic Cage Injury

The Unstable Thoracic Cage Injury: The Concomitant Sternal Fracture Indicates a Severe Thoracic Spine Fracture

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02514993

Enrollment

130

Registered

2015-08-04

Start date

2003-01-31

Completion date

2014-12-31

Last updated

2015-08-04

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

Conditions

Concomitant Sternal Fracture, Thoracic Spine Fracture

Keywords

Sternal fracture, Thoracic spine fracture, Thoracic cage injury

Brief summary

* Analysis of patient data and computed tomography scan of polytraumatized patients thoracic spine fractures * A concomitant sternal fracture was identified an indicator for an unstable thoracic spine fracture

Detailed description

Previous studies stated, that sternal fractures can be regarded as an indicator for thoracic spine fractures and described the combined injury pattern of thoracic spine fracture and sternal fracture as upper thoracic cage injury. But literature research is lacking data that in patients with a thoracic cage injury a highly unstable thoracic spine fracture can be expected. In a large cohort of 130 patients with a thoracic spine fracture and concomitant sternal fracture the investigators analyzed the injury pattern and evaluated associated injuries, trauma mechanism, and clinical outcome. The investigators could prove that in patients with a thoracic cage injury the concomitant sternal fracture may be regarded as an indicator for an unstable thoracic spine fracture, which requires surgical stabilization. Furthermore the analysis revealed that even a highly rotationally unstable type C fracture has to be expected, if sternal and thoracic spine fractures are located in the same segment.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

CASE_CONTROL

Time perspective

RETROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 49 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Sternal fracture and concomitant thoracic spine fracture * Injury Severity Scale ≥ 16 * Age under 50 years * Presence of a whole body computed-tomography (CT-scan) performed at admission of the patient to the hospital

Exclusion criteria

* Missing consent * Incomplete patient data

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Survival	1 year after trauma	Patient survival after polytraumatization

Outcome results