Simultaneous Surgical Treatment of Sternum and Costal Cartilage Fractures

Publication date: Available online 3 August 2018Source: The Annals of Thoracic SurgeryAuthor(s): Erji Gao, Yang Li, Tiancheng Zhao, Xiang Guo, Weiwei He, Weiming Wu, Yonghong Zhao, Yi YangAbstractThere are studies confirmed that for severe flail chest or sternal fractures, even multiple rib fractures, surgery can effectively reduce hospital stay and relieve chest wall pain. But it is a challenge to fix too many costal cartilage fractures in such a small area if we just put internal fixator directly on the sternum. Through this case report we want to share our method of fixation of multiple costal cartilage and sternal fractures at the same time through a small incision, and it is also appropriate for multiple costal cartilage fractures without sternal fracture.
Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Source Type: research