Contemporary management of patients with multiple rib fractures: What you need to know

Ten percent of all injured patients and 55% of patients with blunt chest trauma experience rib fractures. The incidence of death due to rib fractures is related to the number of fractured ribs, severity of fractured ribs, and patient age and comorbid conditions. Death due to rib fracture is mostly caused by pneumonia because of inability to expectorate and take deep breaths. Over the last 25 to 30 years, there has been renewed interest in surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF), known colloquially as "rib plating." This review will present what you need to know in regard to triage decisions on whether to admit a patient to the hospital, the location to which they should be admitted, criteria and evidentiary support for SSRF, timing to SSRF, and operative technique. The review also addresses the cost-effectiveness of this operation and stresses nonoperative treatment modalities that should be implemented prior to operation.