Thoracic traumas comprise 10–15% of all traumas and are the cause of death in 25% of all trauma-related fatalities [1]. The most common type of thoracic trauma is decelerating injuries caused by collisions like traffic accidents. Trauma related to accidents like falls and slip down has also increased [2]. Rib fractures are the most common bony injuries in thoracic trauma and are diagnosed in approximately 50% of patients admitted to the hospital following thoracic trauma. Rib fractures can be markers of potential internal injury. The principal diagnostic goal with clinically suspected rib fractures is the detection of significant associated complications, such as hemopneumothorax, pulmonary contusion, intra-abdominal injury, or major vascular injury. The pain of rib fractures can greatly interfere with ventilation, cause splinting and atelectasis, and prolong the time for weaning from ventilator support. Patients with multiple fractured ribs will often have difficulty coughing or adequately clearing secretions, and should be considered for 24 to 48 hours of observation unit admission [3]. The presence of three or more rib fractures has been associated with increased mortality and duration of care in intensive care units (ICUs) and hospitals [4]. Increasing number of rib fractures correlates directly with increasing pulmonary morbidity (atelectasis, pneumonia) and mortality [5–7].

This morbidity and mortality associated with rib fractures is caused by three main problems: hypoventilation due to pain, impaired gas exchange in damaged lung underlying the fractures, and altered breathing mechanics. An injury severe enough to fracture ribs will invariably cause a substantial contusion to the underlying lung. The damaged lung is poorly compliant and will not take part in gas exchange [8]. Pulmonary contusion usually resolves without causing permanent complications [9]. However, it may also have long-term adverse effects on pulmonary function. Fibrosis of the lungs can occur, resulting in dyspnea (shortness of breath), low blood oxygenation, and reduced functional residual capacity after the injury [10]. Contusion can also permanently reduce the compliance of the lungs [11].

There are not many studies on the effect of rib fracture on pulmonary function. We investigated the effect of rib fracture on pulmonary function in the conservatively treated patients.

Of the 72 patients 11 (15%) were women and 61 (85%) were men. The mean age was 51.2±12.0 (range 19 to 83 years). There were 22 (30%) patients in group A and 50 (70%) in group B. There were no statistically significant differences in sex ratio, age, and underlying lung disease between the two groups.

Group B patients were more likely to have been treated using closed thoracostomy than group A (50% vs. 90%, p=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the group A and B concerning rib fixation (n=0, 0% vs. n=5, 10.0%). The mean hospitalization was 13.5 days in group A and 27.0 days in group B (p<0.001). ICU admission was one (4.5%) in group A and 37 (74.0%) in group B. The incidence of ICU admission and ventilator application was significantly higher in group B (both p<0.001). During the hospital stay, pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were observed in two groups. In group A, there were 0 cases of pneumonia, ARDS among 22 patients (0%). Group B also had complications in 0 out of 50 patients (0%). FVC was <80% in 6 patients (27.3%) in group A and 24 patients (48%) in group B. FEV1 was <80% in 8 patients (36.4%) in group A and 21 patients (42%) in group B. The FEV1/FVC was <80% in six (27.3%) group A patients and six (12.0%) group B patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the pulmonary function test. In the total population, FEV1/FVC was ≥80% in 60 (83.3%) patients and FEV1 was ≥80% in 43 (59.7%) patients (Table 1).

The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 0 days in group A and 4 days in group B. The mean ICU stay was 0.1 days in group A and 6.3 days in group B (p<0.001).

Univariate analysis revealed that factors affecting ICU admission were ≥6 rib fractures (β=5.369, p<0.001) and flail chest (β=8.583, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, factors affecting ICU admission were also ≥6 rib fractures (adjusted β=4.053, p=0.001) and flail chest (adjusted β=7.924, p<0.001) (Table 2).

No factor affected pulmonary function (Table 3).

A recent study highlighted the detrimental effects of increasing number of rib fractures and age. The authors demonstrated that patients older than 65 years with more than four fractures had higher morbidity and mortality [14]. Another study reported that patients older than 45 years of age with more than four rib fractures are at risk of prolonged ICU stays, ventilator days, and overall hospital days [15]. Increasing number of rib fractures has been correlated directly with increasing pulmonary morbidity and mortality [5]. In this study, we also demonstrated that patients with more than six rib fractures exhibit prolonged ICU stays, ventilator days, and overall hospital days. Mechanical ventilator apply was performed in 31 patients. The reason for the intubation was as follows. 11 were due to flail chest and 19 were due to lung contusion. The other was performed because of diaphragm injury. Table 1 shows that flail chest and lung contusion more occurred in group B. Compared with group A, lung contusion and flail chest occurred frequently in group B, Mechanical ventilation application was performed more than group A. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 4 days in group B. Lung contusion was the most common reason for longer duration of mechanical ventilation when patients were applied for more than 4 days (13 patients, 5.8 days). The next was flail chest (5 patients, 5.8 days).

Flagel et al. [5] found that when six or more ribs are fractured, pulmonary morbidity and flail chest are increased. It would have a significant effect on the pulmonary function outcome. So we divided them into two groups based on six. In this study, increasing number of rib fractures was not associated with pulmonary function previous study that reported improvement in pulmonary function tests after 6 to 18 months [16]. Other authors reported that in a cohort of 13 survivors of severe thoracic trauma with lung contusion, substantial physiological recovery was evident with good pulmonary function tests [17]. Surgical fixation of ribs can be carried out as a first-line therapeutic option for bilateral rib fractures or flail segments without significant complications if the risk factors associated with mortality are carefully considered [18]. The authors also opined that, with a view of restoring pulmonary function as well as chest wall configuration, early operative stabilization of the ribs can be more helpful than conventional treatment for patients with multiple rib fractures. Early restoration of the chest wall integrity and respiratory functions prevents restrictive impairment of pulmonary functions, as proven by the total lung capacity values surgically treated patients presented 6 months postoperatively, which were all significantly higher than 85% of the predicted value [19]. The indications for fixation of ribs remain controversial mostly because of a lack of adequate studies comparing operative and non-operative treatment. In this study, the majority of patients with multiple rib fractures were treated without rib fixation. Only five patients underwent rib fixation, and fixation was performed by suture fixation. In a previous study, rib fixation was performed using a metal plate. In plate fixation, firm fixation might not be achieved, creating a risk of dislocation. Complications, such as osteomyelitis, are related to fixation to the bone marrow through the ribs. The patients enrolled in this study tended to recover pulmonary function without rib fixation. The collective findings highlight the need for more studies on the surgical reduction of rib fracture.

The primary limitation for this study is related to selection bias, because this study was conducted in a single center and had limited sample size. The small number of patients makes it difficult to prove that variables affect morbidity and pulmonary function. Another significant limitation is inherent to the retrospective nature of this study. Because this study has a retrospective design, patients underwent pulmonary function tests at different times. Prospective studies including serial pulmonary function tests are needed to definitively determine the effect of rib fractures on long-term outcome. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the number of rib fractures on pulmonary function simply. Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was needed to examine the effect of lung fibrosis caused by sequelae of lung contusion on pulmonary function. But, DLCO could not be performed in all patients. And pleural adhesion, thickening, and deformity were excluded because of the lack of accurate radiologic findings due to retrospective study limitations.

In patients with lung contusion or flail chest, early conservative treatment could restore patients without any specific complications. We conclude that pulmonary function is restored by conservative treatment in patients with rib fractures even if the number of rib fractures increases. In patients with multiple rib fractures, more research is needed on factors that can be associated with pulmonary function, such as pain, pleural sequelae and diffusion capacity. Also studies comparing open rib fixation and conservative treatment of long term pulmonary function are required.