Introduction

Thoracic trauma is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in our society. It ranks second only to head injury as a cause of traumatic death in USA. One of every four death resulting from trauma is attributable to a thoracic etiology. ¹

Multiple rib fracture causes severe pain and is the most common of all chest injuries and is indentified in 10% of patients after trauma.^3A The overall incidence may be higher as not all rib fractures are seen on chest x-ray or otherwise detected.

Rib fracture is a marker of severe bodily and solid organ injury. Rib fractures are associated with concomitant thoracic, head, extimity, abdominal and blunt cardiac injury^2-5 Patients are at increased risk of multiple complications and have poor prognosis. Multiple rib fractures cause severe pain which may be more debilitating and harmful than the injury itself.¹ Multiple rib fractures contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality of the injured patients with the elderly ¹ and patients with poor respiratory reserves being most vulnerable.

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Dr Pankaj Kumar Omar

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