• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.246-250
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• 2012

Background: Although it is rare for the fracture itself to become a life threatening injury in patients suffering from rib fracture, the lives of these patients are occasionally threatened by other associated injuries. Especially, early discovery of patients with rib fracture and intra-abdominal organ injury is extremely important to the prognosis. This study analyzed the link between rib fracture and intra-abdominal injury to achieve improved treatment. Materials and Methods: Among trauma patients that had visited the hospital emergency room from January 2007 to December 2009, a retrospective study was conducted on 453 patients suffering from rib fracture due to blunt trauma. Rib fracture was classified according to location (left, right, and bilateral), and according to level (upper rib fracture [1-2nd rib], middle rib fracture [3-8th rib], and lower rib fracture [9-12th rib]). The researched data was statistically compared and analyzed to investigate the correlation between the location, level, and number of rib fracture and intra-abdominal organ injury. Results: Motor vehicle injury was found to be the most common mechanism of injury with 208 cases (46%). Associated injuries accompanied with rib fracture were generated in 276 cases (61%). Intra-abdominal organ injury was discovered in 97 cases (21%). Liver injury was the most common intra-abdominal injury associated with rib fracture with 39 cases (40%), followed by spleen injury, with 23 cases (23%). Intra-abdominal injury according to level of rib fracture was presented as upper rib fracture in 11 cases (11%), middle rib fracture in 31 cases (32%), and lower rib fracture in 55 cases (57%), thus verifying that intra-abdominal injuries were commonly accompanied in lower rib fractures (p=0.03). In particular, significant increase of intra-abdominal injury was presented in fractures below the 8th rib (p=0.03). The number of intra-abdominal injuries requiring emergency operations was significantly higher in patients with more than 6 rib fractures (p=0.04). Conclusion: Intra-abdominal organ injury is more common in patients with lower rib fracture, especially fractures below the 8th rib. Intra-abdominal organ injuries generated in multiple rib fracture patients with more than 6 fractures significantly higher severity. These cases must be thoroughly inspected and carefully observed as there is possibility of emergency operation.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.140-144
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• 2001

Severe chronic coughing infrequently causes rib fractures and these fractures belong to Stress fracture and these rib fractures are given the term of "cough fractur". Cough fracture usually occurs in one rib and in the middle of the rib between the costochondral junction and the costal angle. The case is a report about a young woman with multiple rib fractures which were caused by severe coughing. The Chest PA and Rib series test were normal but Rib fractures were founded by Bone scan test. Treatment was Herb-medication, rest and restriction of work and symptoms were reduced.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-12
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• 2014

Violent or severe persistent coughing is rarely associated with rib fracture. We report a rare case of a cough-induced rib fracture in a patient without any traumatic history or any other underlying disease. A 32-year-old female presented to the emergency department complaining of having had right-sided pleuritic chest pain for 5 days. She had a background of an 8-week coughing illness. A posteroanterior view of the chest radiograph showed no definite fractured line. Chest computed tomography revealed a subtle break cortical line of the 7th rib in the right-sided chest wall. Early identification of a cough-induced fracture of the rib by using computed tomography may avoid unnecessary further work-ups including laboratory examination and may lead to appropriate discharge instructions including rest and reassurance. The clinical presentations and radiologic findings of rib fractures caused by coughing are presented along with a review of the literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.847-850
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• 1995

For the purpose of evaluation of clinical characteristics in multiple rib fracture due to accident , 24 cases treated by surgical rib fixation using Judet`s strut for multiple rib fracture and flail chestduring the period from June 1993 to October 1994 were reviewed. There were 17 males and 7 females.They ranged in age from 19 years old to 56 years old. The causes of rib fracture were traffic accident in 18 cases, fall down in 3 cases, compression in 2 cases stab wound in 1 case. The number of rib fracture were five in 7 cases, six in 5 cases, four in 5 cases, three in 3 cases. Associated intrathoracic injuries were hemopneumothorax in 12 cases, hemothorax in 10 cases, lung laceration or hemorrhagic contusion in 7 cases. Associated extrathoracic injuries were abdominal injuries in 21 cases, orthopedic problem in 7 cases, head trauma in 4 cases. The most common fractured site was posterolateral portion of the ribs. The causes for operation were flail chest, severe rib displacement and pain, hemothorax or hemopneumothorax with continuous air leakage and stab wound. There were 6 postoperative complications ; one with hydrothorax, two with fibrothorax, two with wound infection and one case of death due to multiful organ failure. Postoperatively, all patients became comfortable and complained less painful. Twenty patients restored spontaneous breathing without ventilator support, three patients were ventilated during a day and one patient expired after 2 days. There were no morbidity and mortality related to operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.411-417
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• 1979

During the period of 4 years from August 1, 1975 to August 1, 1979, authors have experienced 100 cases of multiple rib fractures by nonpenetrating injury at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Paik Foundation Hospital in Seoul, Korea. 1. The ratio of male to female patients with multiple rib fracture was 2.6:1 with male predominance and 84% of the total cases were between 20 and 50 years of age. 2. The most common cause of multiple rib fracture was traffic accident and falls accounted for the next largest group. 3. The most common site of rib fracture was 4th rib to 7th rib level on both hemithorax [52%]. 4. Associated injuries were cerebral contusion in 26%, clavicular fracture in 22%, long bone fracture in 22%, pelvic bone fracture in 10%, and scapular fracture in 8%. 5. Early complications and/or result of the multiple rib fractures were lung contusion in 23 cases, subcutaneous emphysema in 21 cases, hemothorax in 21 cases, hemopneumothorax in 6 cases, and flail chest in 12 cases. 6. The flail chests were managed by strapping the chest with adhesive plaster, external traction of flail segment with towel clip, ventilatory assistance for marginal clinical indications, and in cases of complicated with intrathoracic hemorrhage, wire fixation of flail segment through open thoraco-tomy. 7. The principles of therapy for hemothorax and/or pneumothorax were rapid reexpansion of the lungs by thoracentesis [11%] and closed thoracostomy [22%], but open thoracotomy had to be done on 3 cases because of massive bleeding or intrapleural hematoma and diaphragmatic rupture. 8. The over all mortality was 4% [4 among 100 cases] and the cause of all deaths was head injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 1984

A clinical evaluation was performed on 76 cases of chest injury experienced at department of Chest Surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital during the past 3 years period from January 1981 to August 1983. 1.The most common cause of the chest trauma was gun shot by which 26 cases were injured among 44 cases [57.9%] of penetrating injury. Remaining 32 cases [42.1%] were injured by non-penetrating blunt trauma. 2.Hemopneumothorax was observed in 60 cases [78.9%], those were caused by both penetrating [65%] and non-penetrating [35%] injuries. 3.Rib fracture was found in 58.7% of total cases and with rib fracture, clavicle fracture was combined at 19.6% and sternal fracture, at 8.7%. 4.Most common symptoms were chest pain and dyspnea, and most common signs were breath sound diminution and subcutaneous emphysema. 5.Common site of rib fracture was from 4th rib to 8th rib [69.4%]. 6.In 58 cases [76.3%], patients were treated with operation including open thoracotomy [25 cases]. 7.Overall mortality was 5.3%[4 cases] and causes of death were septic shock and respiratory failure.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.27-35
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to discriminate the cough-induced rib fracture with chest pain occurred after chuna therapy. Methods: A 68-year-old female patient who is suffering from left chest wall pain with chronic cough was treated by Korean medical treatment and chuna therapy from November 11th 2014 to November 15th 2014. The improvement of the patient's pain was measured by 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). For diagnosis the rib fracture, we conducted the radiography, computed tomography (CT), and bone scan. Results: After treatment, pain intensity was decreased and the rib fracture was negative in radiography and CT. But, in bone scan, the 5th-8th rib fractures in left side were detected. Conclusions: When the patient with chest pain visit the hospital after chuna therapy, a doctor keep in mind the possibility of coughinduced rib fracture.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.48-59
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• 2024

Purpose: Research on rib fracture management has exponentially increased. Predicting fracture patterns based on the mechanism of injury (MOI) and other possible correlations may improve resource allocation and injury prevention strategies. The Chest Injury International Database (CIID) is the largest prospective repository of the operative and nonoperative management of patients with severe chest wall trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the MOI is associated with the resulting rib fracture patterns. We hypothesized that specific MOIs would be associated with distinct rib fracture patterns. Methods: The CIID was queried to analyze fracture patterns based on the MOI. Patients were stratified by MOI: falls, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), motorcycle collisions (MCCs), automobile-pedestrian collisions, and bicycle collisions. Fracture locations, associated injuries, and patient-specific variables were recorded. Heat maps were created to display the fracture incidence by rib location. Results: The study cohort consisted of 1,121 patients with a median RibScore of 2 (range, 0-3) and 9,353 fractures. The average age was 57±20 years, and 64% of patients were male. By MOI, the number of patients and fractures were as follows: falls (474 patients, 3,360 fractures), MVCs (353 patients, 3,268 fractures), MCCs (165 patients, 1,505 fractures), automobile-pedestrian collisions (70 patients, 713 fractures), and bicycle collisions (59 patients, 507 fractures). The most commonly injured rib was the sixth rib, and the most common fracture location was lateral. Statistically significant differences in the location and patterns of fractures were identified comparing each MOI, except for MCCs versus bicycle collisions. Conclusions: Different mechanisms of injury result in distinct rib fracture patterns. These different patterns should be considered in the workup and management of patients with thoracic injuries. Given these significant differences, future studies should account for both fracture location and the MOI to better define what populations benefit from surgical versus nonoperative management.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2009

Purpose: This study is to evaluate rib fractures on bone scan in breast cancer patients treated with breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy and to evaluate its relation with radiation therapy and operation modality. Materials and Methods: Two hundred seventy cases that underwent serial bone scan after breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy were enrolled. Bone scan and chest a findings of rib fracture were analyzed. Results: The rib uptake was seen in 74 of 270 cases (27.4%) on bone scan and 50 cases (18.5%) were confirmed to have rib fracture by chest CT. The rate of modified radical mastectomy in patients with rib fracture was significantly higher than that in patients without rib fracture (66.0% vs. 27.0%, p = 0.000). The rate of additional radiation therapy to axillar or supraclavicular regions in patients with rib fracture was significantly higher than that in patients without rib fracture (62.0% vs. 28.6%, p =0.000). Rib fracture was seen most frequently at 1-2 years after radiation therapy (51.9%) and single rib fracture was seen most frequently (55.2%). Of total 106 rib fractures, focal rib uptake was seen in 94 ribs (88.7%) and diffuse rib uptake was seen in 12 ribs (11.3%). On one year follow-up bone scan, complete resolution of rib uptake was seen in 15 ribs (14.2%). On chest a, the rate of fracture line in ribs with intense uptake was significantly higher than that in ribs with mild or moderate uptake (p = 0.000). The rate of presence of fracture line in ribs with focal uptake was significantly higher than that in ribs with diffuse uptake (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Rib fracture in breast cancer patients after radiation therapy was related to radiation portal and operation modality. It should be interpreted carefully as a differential diagnosis of bone metastasis.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-82
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• 2015

Simple rib fracture is one of most common injury after blunt thoracic trauma found in approximately 7% to 40% of cases. Delayed traumatic diaphragmatic injury with massive hemothorax after rib fracture is rare but a potentially life-threatening condition. We present a rare case of a 79-year-old male with delayed diaphragmatic injury with massive hemothorax due to fracture of the lower ribs. Under thoracoscopy, hemothorax was evacuated, diaphragmatic rupture was identified and repaired, and the lower ribs were fixed with metal plate (s). Although simple lower rib fractures may be the only clinical finding, close observation and monitoring are required because of the possibility of diaphragmatic and/or intraabdominal organ injury.