Chest Wall Repair of Rib Fractures After Trauma

Rib Fractures Clinical Trial

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

Status Completed

Clinical Trial 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.

Clinical Trial 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 ;

Study Design

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Rib Fractures

• NCT number: NCT00926991
• Study type: Observational
• Source: Vanderbilt University
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 2009
• Completion date: September 2010