Review Article
Ernest G Chan, Erica Stefan
Abstract
The most common result of blunt thoracic injury is indeed the fracture of one or more ribs. Rib fractures consists of nearly 40% of patients admitted to major trauma centers, nearly accounting for 200,000 documented cases in the national trauma databank. This injury is often used as an important indicator of trauma severity and playing a major contributing factor in as many as 50% of fatal cases. What is particularly devastating about rib fractures is their intimacy to many vital structures. The location of the rib fracture may indicate types of injuries that may occur. Patients often present with hemothorax or pneumothorax, particularly if two or more ribs are fractured.