Biomaterial Database

Operative stabilization of a flail chest six years after injury. 2001

M S Slater, and J C Mayberry, and D D Trunkey

Department of Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA. slaterm@ohsu.edu

We report a case of operative stabilization of an incompetent upper chest wall 6 years following flail chest. The indications for stabilization were chronic pain and dyspnea associated with rib malunion and loss of hemithorax volume. At operation, multiple pseudoarthroses were encountered and partial resection of ribs three and four was required. Malleable plates were used to bridge the gaps created by the resection and were secured in place with sternal wire. The patient reported a dramatic relief of symptoms and, at 18 months postoperatively, continues to work full-time on his cattle ranch essentially pain-free.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011542	Pseudarthrosis	A pathologic entity characterized by deossification of a weight-bearing long bone, followed by bending and pathologic fracture, with inability to form normal BONY CALLUS leading to existence of the "false joint" that gives the condition its name. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Pseudoarthrosis,Pseudarthroses,Pseudoarthroses
D011859	Radiography	Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film).	Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D001860	Bone Plates	Implantable fracture fixation devices attached to bone fragments with screws to bridge the fracture gap and shield the fracture site from stress as bone heals. (UMDNS, 1999)	Bone Plate,Plate, Bone,Plates, Bone
D001864	Bone Wires	Steel wires, often threaded through the skin, soft tissues, and bone, used to fix broken bones. Kirschner wires or apparatus also includes the application of traction to the healing bones through the wires.	Kirschner Wire,Kirschner Wires,Bone Wire,Wire, Bone,Wire, Kirschner,Wires, Bone,Wires, Kirschner
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D005409	Flail Chest	A complication of multiple RIB FRACTURES; RIB and STERNUM fractures, or thoracic surgery. A portion of the THORACIC WALL becomes isolated from the RIB CAGE and exhibits paradoxical respiration.	Stove-in Chest,Chest, Flail,Chest, Stove-in,Stove in Chest
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D005593	Fracture Fixation, Internal	The use of internal devices (metal plates, nails, rods, etc.) to hold the position of a fracture in proper alignment.	Osteosynthesis, Fracture,Fixation, Internal Fracture,Fixations, Internal Fracture,Fracture Fixations, Internal,Fracture Osteosyntheses,Fracture Osteosynthesis,Internal Fracture Fixation,Internal Fracture Fixations,Osteosyntheses, Fracture