Objective To evaluate clinical efficacy of four-claw Ti-planes for internal fixation of multiple rib fractures and flail chest. Methods Clinical data of 93 patients with multiple rib fractures and flail chest who were admittedto Shanghai Pudong Hospital from December 2011 to November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 78 male and 15 female patients with their age of 20-80 years. All the patients received internal fixation of rib fractures using four-clawTi-planes. Finite element modeling and analysis were performed to investigate biomechanical behaviors of rib fractures after internal fixation with four-claw Ti-planes. Results The average number of rib fractures of the 93 patients was 5.9±2.1,and each patient received 3.8±1.3 four-claw Ti-planes for internal fixation. The operations were performed 6.3±3.2 days after admission. After the rib fractures were fixed with four-claw Ti-planes,rib dislocations and chest-wall collapse of flail chest were restored,and patients’ pain was relieved. Postoperative CT image reconstruction of the chest showed no dislocationor displacement at the fixation areas of the four-claw Ti-planes. Rib fractures were stabilized well,and normal contours of the chest were restored. Finite element analysis showed that the maximum bearable stress of the rib fractures after internal fixation with four-claw Ti-planes was twice as large as normal ribs. Conclusion Clinical outcomes of four-claw Ti-planesfor internal fixation of rib fractures are satisfactory with small incisions and less muscle injury of the chest wall,so this technique deserves wide clinical use.
目的 通过对连枷胸两种不同治疗方法的比较,探讨该病的优化治疗方案。 方法 将2005年1月-2012年11月收治的80例枷胸患者按入选标准分为:保守组40例,通过胸部外固定和(或)呼吸机内固定等方法治疗;手术组40例,采用镍钛记忆合金环抱式接骨器手术内固定骨折的肋骨,比较两种治疗方法和疗效及并发症情况。 结果 保守组和手术组各死亡3例,原因为呼吸道感染致呼吸衰竭,两组无差异,但ICU停留和住院天数、机械通气时间、呼吸道感染等并发症手术组明显低于保守组(P<0.01)。手术组无胸壁畸形,而保守组有18例,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。出院3个月后,手术组患者部分肺功能指标显著优于保守组(P<0.01)。 结论 手术治疗连枷胸可迅速稳定胸壁,消除反常呼吸和激烈疼痛对呼吸的影响,还可减轻连枷胸对患者远期肺功能的影响,具有较高的临床应用价值。
ObjectiveTo use claw-shaped blade plate and self-made 'titanium clip' blade plate for rib fracture fixation, and compare outcomes of these two internal fixation methods through mechanical tests. MethodsThoracic cage specimens of six adults (male)corpses were numbered. Bilateral 4th, 6th and 8th thoracic ribs of each corpse were taken from the rib nodules (0%)to costal cartilage junction (CJJ points, 100%)along the long axis of the ribs. Rib fragments about 130 mm in length with 50% locus were selected for mechanical tests of the lateral area. A total of 36 rib fragments were sampled and numbered. Each rib fragment was placed on electronic universal mechanical tester. A span of 100 mm and a loading speed of 2.5 mm/min were set to perform a three-point bending test until specimens fractured. The loads at displacement of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 20 mm respectively and maximum load were recorded, then the load-displacement curve was drawn. Above rib fragments were randomly divided into 2 groups, which were fixed using 'titanium clip' blade plate (titanium plate group)and claw-shaped blade plate (claw-shape group)respectively. Three-point bending test was performed under above loading conditions until the fixed specimens fractured again, and relevant data were recorded. ResultsBefore fixation, there was no statistical difference in maximum load and peak deformation of the 4th, 6th and 8th ribs between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Maximum load and peak deformation of the 4th, 6th and 8th ribs in the claw-shape group after fixation were statistically different from those before fixation (P < 0.05). Maximum load and peak deformation of the 4th, 6th and 8th ribs in the titanium plate group after fixation were also statistically different from those before fixation (P < 0.05). After fixation, maximum loads of the 4th, 6th and 8th ribs in the claw-shape group were statistically different from those in the titanium plate group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in peak deformation between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionsFractured ribs fixed with 'titanium clip' blade plates are more stable and stronger than those fixed with claw-shaped blade plates.