Effect of timing selection of internal fixation on recovery of patients with multiple rib fractures

  Objective  To observe the effect of timing selection of internal fixation on recovery of patients with multiple rib fractures.

  Methods  The clinical data of 174 patients with multiple rib fractures who were treated in our hospital was retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to different operation time of internal fixation. A total of 91 patients who underwent internal fixation within 72 hours of injury were selected as observation group, and 83 patients who underwent internal fixation after 72 hours of injury were selected as control group. The general operation conditions, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, serum pain factor level, blood gas analysis index level and incidence of complications were compared.

  Results  There were no significant differences in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (P>0.05), but the postoperative ventilator use time and hospital stay in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After operation, the VAS score and carbon dioxide partial pressure of the two groups decreased significantly, but the decrease degree was greater in the observation group (P < 0.05). After the operation, the blood oxygen partial pressure of the two groups increased significantly, but the observation group increased more significantly (P < 0.05). After the operation, the serum pain-causing substances, serotonin and norepinephrine levels of the two groups were significantly lower than treatment before, but the observation group decreased more significantly (P < 0.05). The total incidence of complications in the observation group was 3.30%, which was significantly lower than 13.25% in the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Internal fixation within 72 hours after injury in patients with multiple rib fractures can effectively shorten the use time of ventilator and hospitalization time, relieve pain, improve blood gas analysis indexes, reduce the level of pain causing substances in serum, and reduce the incidence of complications compared with internal fixation more than 72 hours after injury.