# Outcomes of Surgical Rib Plating: A Case Series

## TL;DR

This case series examines the outcomes of surgical rib fixation in six patients with traumatic rib fractures.

## Contribution

The study provides real-world outcomes data on surgical rib fixation, emphasizing its potential benefits and the need for surgeon familiarity.

## Key findings

- On average, patients stayed 12.3 days in the hospital and 4.6 days in the ICU.
- Only one of the six patients experienced respiratory failure and death.

## Abstract

Rib fractures are a common result of blunt thoracic trauma. Complications of rib fractures include pneumothorax, hemothorax, respiratory failure, and death. The conservative management of rib fractures has been the mainstay of care with surgical rib fixation as a secondary management only performed in complicated flail segments. The purpose of this retrospective study is to describe the outcomes of six patients who underwent surgical rib fixation following a traumatic injury at a Level 1 trauma center. All care for these cases was performed at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA. On average, patients stayed 12.3 total days in the hospital and 4.6 in the intensive care unit. Out of the six patients, only one required prolonged respiratory support eventually resulting in respiratory failure and death. This retrospective study on surgical rib fixation highlights the importance of early surgical intervention and the need for more general and trauma surgeons to be familiar with the procedure itself.