Displaced Rib Fracture with Hemothorax
Indication:
Multiple displaced rib fractures with retained hemothorax
Product used:
Four 10mm plates and one 12mm plate
Surgeon:
John C. Mayberry, MD, Portland, OR
History:
62 year old male injured in rollover tractor incident on his farm on 9-12-2006 sustaining multiple left-sided rib fractures. During his recovery he developed a significant retained hemothorax and his rib fractures became more severely displaced.
Treatment:
The patient underwent a mini-thoracotomy with thorascopic-assisted evacuation of the retained hemothorax and repair of posterior rib fractures of the 6th, 7th, and 8th ribs and anterior rib fractures of the 5th and 6th ribs with appropriately sized U-plates on 9-18-2006. The 6th rib had an additional area anteriorly which was comminuted and which was repaired with an absorbable polylactide plate cerclaged with absorbable suture. An thoracic epidural catheter was used to manage post-operative pain control.
Follow-up:
The patient required 48 hours of postoperative mechanical ventilation, but made an uneventful recovery thereafter.
