Surgical Stabilization for Rib Fractures
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to compare the usual care alone to usual care plus early surgical stabilization in adult trauma patients who have been admitted with rib fractures, to evaluate for heterogeneity of treatment effect in high risk subgroups and to determine the the impact of multiple rib fractures on post-discharge health status and time to return to work or usual physical activity.
Conditions
- Trauma Chest
- Rib Fracture Multiple
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Over 16 Years
- Eligible Genders
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- Blunt trauma mechanism - Severe chest wall injury (defined by one of the 3 below): Radiographic flail segment (defined as greater than 2 fractures in greater than 3 consecutive ribs) or greater than 5 consecutive rib fractures or greater than 1 rib fractures with bicortical displacement - At least one true rib (1-7) fractured and accessible for stabilization
Exclusion Criteria
- Severe traumatic brain injury (best resuscitated GCS less than 8 as measured at 24 hours) - Spinal cord injury - Pre-existing congestive heart failure or oxygen-dependent pulmonary disease - Any reason for which SSRF could not occur within 72 hours of admission
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Early surgical stabilization |
This arm will include early surgical stabilization (within 72 hours of admission) in addition to the usual care received for patients with multiple rib fractures. Usual care will involve pain management. |
|
|
Active Comparator Usual care |
This arm will be usual care only. Usual care will include pain managment. |
|
More Details
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston